200427 Remembrance to Independence

27th April 2020

 http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/remembrance-and-independence/

Since we are all engulfed with the ramifications of this ghastly virus, I thought to begin with a quote from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who quoted Cicero’s De Legibus, he responded that since dodging death from the virus, he has doubled his efforts to care for the people of the UK “Salus populi suprema lex esto” (Latin: “The health of the people should be the supreme law” That’s what happens when one’s leader is an Oxford Literae Humaniores graduate. My thanks to my son Gideon for the quote which he gave me despite being a Cambridge man himself!

Tonight marks the beginning of the most solemn day in the Israeli calendar, just after dusk the first eerie wail will call the entire country to attention for one minute’s silence to honour the fallen of Israel’s wars, to honour those who died so that we could be live in security. Tonight Remembrance Day – Yom HaZikaron begins with the traditional service at the Kotel, the Western Wall, but without the attendance of the families of the fallen. Tomorrow at 11:00 the second siren will sound for 2 full minutes, to remember the fallen of Israel, Jews, Christians, Druze and Bedouin. This year, the Minister of Defence, Naftali Bennet, decided that it was too dangerous for the families to visit the graves of their loved ones because they cannot all go together because the graves are so close together that the danger of contagion for elderly parents became just too great. The families went individually during the past week and tomorrow brothers in arms and families alike will hold Zoom memorials and light a candle at home.

They say that out of every tragedy comes a new beginning and out of this plague came a new understanding, on both sides, between the Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) and the soldiers who went to protect them against the new enemy, the virus, to ensure they stayed home but also to bring them food, medicines and other essentials. The leading Rabbis of both the Ashkenaz and Sephardi communities have initiated a virtual candle lighting and reading of Tehilim (psalms) among the Haredi community for each of the nearly 24,000 young lives lost since before the founding of the State of Israel. One of the initiators, former Minister of Education, Rabbi Shai Piron, said “In the past few weeks we have seen soldiers in the streets of Haredi communities such as Bnei Brak and Modi’in Illit because of the coronavirus emergency. The wall that separated the two worlds is falling, it is the time to understand that we are one nation and we must all do something to bridge the gap, and that means from both sides of the religious divide. It is important to show that Yom Hazikaron is not a secular day, it is a day for all those who fell and we should celebrate it together, while respecting the specifics of each community”. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/haredim-to-light-virtual-candle-for-soldiers-in-one-people-project-625987

You too can light a virtual memorial candle if you go to  http://ner.izkor.mod.gov.il/#/view1 (in Hebrew) Nearly 500,000 candles have already been lit.

The parades and speeches, the flag bearing and the changing of the guard will take place, but without the usual cheering audience, we will all watch from our homes. The incredible switch from mourning to celebration as dusk falls and Independence Day begins will take place on Mount Herzl as always, the mourning for those who gave their lives for this country to the dancing, music, singing and joy of Independence Day – Yom HaAtzma’ut – to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the incredible, modern, innovative and beautiful country that they made possible. The famous singers will sing, the dancers will dance and the flags will wave, but all prerecorded. Even President Rivlin has recorded a greeting on a hologram which brings him into your very own home so that you can take a selfie with him!! The Link to the president’s greeting: http://tetavi.8thwall.app/israel72 and Simulation clip, for your use (courtesy)https://youtu.be/ZCSwoo44Ukc

This year 16 exceptional people will light the torches, the beacons, for the 72nd Independence Day. Many represent the caregivers during this time of medical intensity, all are Israeli. They come from every stream of Israeli society. https://www.theicenter.org/resource/people-who-inspire-times-corona

The closure and isolation which meant that so many had a very lonely Passover Seders is now affecting the Israeli Moslems during Ramadan. Actually it is affecting Moslems worldwide, even the Kaba’a is empty at a time when millions normally make Haj, instead of the throngs there are two or three locals. Synagogues, Churches and Mosques are empty of congregants, but many are finding a new way to pray, a private conversation with God.

The lone prayer can sometimes bring a special togetherness – as happened in Jerusalem last week when clergymen of all the major religions met to pray for the health and peace of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXthpOBqBfs

One of my favourite articles which has become a regular each year in the Jerusalem Post is Barbara Sofer’s “72+1 new reasons I love Israel” Each year she manages with ease to give the same number of reasons as Israel’s age plus one for luck https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/independence-day-721-new-reasons-i-love-israel-625573

I have at least two additions to Barbara Sofers 72+1. This year, the flags and bunting on Road Number One, the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, are not just Israeli flags; this year they alternate between the Israeli flag, Magen David Adom – The Red Star of David on its pure white background and the symbol of the Israeli Police. A well-deserved tribute to the people who have risked their lives to serve us.

My second reason is that, as a nation, we care, we really care. For instance, when we realised a dear friend was alone in his apartment, has no food in the house, doesn’t know how to cook and walks with difficulty, Zvi called the Municipality and now he not only receives meals delivered to his doorstep every day by volunteers, they call him each day to see how he is, if he needs anything. Volunteers in each neighbourhood do the same, nobody should go hungry or suffer alone. On Holocaust Remembrance Day the police decided that each and every Holocaust Survivor would have a policeman standing beside their door during the siren and would receive a flower, so that they know that they are not alone.

On a different subject, we almost have a government – well we are closer to forming a government than we have managed for the last few years. The insults are still flying and the accusations too but we are getting there. Sadly many have turned against Benny Gantz, after he agreed to join a government led, albeit temporarily, by Benjamin Netanyahu since one of his election promises was that he would never sit in government with a Prime Minister under the cloud of indictment. I saw it as Gantz being the only adult in the room but his former allies and many of his voters are very disappointed. Let’s face it, it isn’t ideal, I’m not sure anyone wins and many lose, but we desperately need a working government right now and urgently. The country’s fiscal situation is tenuous our need to come to a clear policy on how to restart the economy and the ability to legislate is beyond overdue. We can continue moaning or just get on with it.

Today’s date in the Gregorian Calendar is the 27th of April, but we started counting well before that. The Hebrew month of Iyar, of which its first full day is today was the very first month of the very first calendar, the Lunar Calendar, when we left Egypt. The Torah reading which began the month teaches us to love our neighbour and to show kindness to all. Fascinating.

The usual flurry of parties, barbeques in the parks, in fact barbeques on every available open space, won’t happen this year, a different kind of celebration. Our veranda is ablaze with colour and redolent with the blossom on the little orange tree and the sound of the flags and bunting flap, flap, flapping in the breeze reassure me that although we celebrate at home, celebrate we will. Although I was a tiny girl, a toddler, when the State of Israel was declared, I seem to remember my parent’s tears of joy, their pride in the fact that there was a Jewish homeland. I grew up in a Zionist home – my parents love of Israel brought them here for their first visit in 1953, when Daddy took movie of Mummy dancing with the children in the WIZO Jerusalem Baby Home. When I think of the changes in the landscapes in those 16 mm flickering images and the bustling, thriving, beautiful country I live in today, I burst with pride at the achievements against all odds, the achievements of this tiny sliver of land. Israel at 72 is more beautiful than she has ever been before.

Lt Col. Shai Abramson singing the Prayer for the State of Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q5–mNIZhU&t=70s with subtitles although I admit that I love the video where one sees him recording, even if you don’t understand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q5–mNIZhU

As we mourn those who died defending us and those ordinary people who died at the hands of our enemies only one song seems appropriate, Mark Knopfler’s Brothers in Arms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-g9zVf_qwE

Finally, I ask you to stand and sing with me of the hope that is the State of Israel. Hatikvah from Mount Herzl in the days when we could celebrate together – with English subtitles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMwSlp7I7IQ

Tonight at precisely 20:00 Israel will stand on our balconies, verandahs and windows as the siren covers us with a blanket of awareness. This year we are asked to wave our flags rather than stand to attention, as a symbol of solidarity with the families of the fallen.

We have so much to be proud of, so much to bring us together that it is time to put aside our differences and celebrate a beautiful 72 year old woman who nurtures us all, whoever and whatever we may be.

With love from Jerusalem, our capital city and the heart of our world

Sheila

--

If the media does not inform us we must inform the media

My Website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/

Facebook      Sheila Silver Raviv
Involvement   http://www.impact-se.org/ The Yuri Shtern Holistic Center  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=kMhjARej5-o

200421 Yom HaShoah 2020

200420

20th April, 2020

Tonight, Holocaust Remembrance Day begins in Israel and the Jewish Communities, the date chosen to commemorate the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Incredibly today I learned that the Warsaw Ghetto had a full medical school and produced fine doctors, yet another example which refutes the theory that the Jews just went like sheep to the slaughter.

From Dusk to dusk we will be reminded of a fate worse than death for so many. Israeli television will run non-stop testimonies and all programmes and movies are related to that ghastly period of history, including the stories of the defiant ones who fought back.

Survivors. A word with connotations so vast, so enormous that we, mere mortals, find it hard to define. The dictionary says it is someone who survived, but what? What did they survive and how?

Why do some people survive horrors beyond even the wildest imagination, while others fail and die? How can one see the unimaginable and yet emerge as caring, whole human beings? It surely has nothing to do with physical strength because during the Holocaust even some of those who suffered physical torture and starvation survived. How?

I believe it can be summed up in one word - HOPE. The belief that tomorrow will bring relief; the belief that one will find an extra tiny morsel, a forgotten potato skin, a tiny crumb of bread that will ensure survival for another day.

What we commemorate tonight and tomorrow overshadows the whining at being forced to stay home and only see our children on WhatsApp or Zoom. What we commemorate today puts a pandemic virus into perspective and forces us to thank Heaven for what we have. As my son Gideon said "If they could make a Passover Seder in Auschwitz why are we complaining?"

There are two links this week. One from the Imperial War Museum which conceivably gives the clearest and fullest picture of the horror found at the liberation of Bergen Belsen

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-liberation-of-bergen-belsen

The late, eminent, Richard Dimbleby was a young correspondent for the BBC when he was sent to cover the liberation of Bergen Belsen. Sights of indescribable horror met his eyes, his words can never be forgotten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP9BLKZENbc

Many have personal stories which have been recorded and handed down generations.  Here is Zvi's.

Zvi's father Kalman was a policeman for the British Mandate, Policeman number 81, Policeman of the Kotel (Western Wall). Toward the end of 1938, after catching a murderer from a known family in the Old City, Captain Silver, Chief of the Mandate Police in Jerusalem and a religious British Jew, realised that young Kalman's life was in danger and managed to sneak him out of the country and sent him to see his family in Poland. Upon seeing the situation through fresh eyes Kalman tried to persuade his Mother and siblings to pack up immediately and follow him to the nascent State of Israel. They refused, claiming the "protektzia" of high social standing and the need to sell their properties. Kalman returned to Jerusalem, expressing his concern at what was happening in Poland and his distress for his family.

One of Kalman's brothers, the handsome doctor Josef Rybak, who was also a footballer in the Polish National Team, was one who did not believe that the rampant anti-Semitism would amount to anything. My searches through the archives showed that he became the Doctor of the clinic in Treblinka – the clinic for the Jewish "workers". There were up to 600 "workers" whose turnover was beyond belief, very few survived more than weeks. After further research we discovered that only two survivors of that diabolical camp lived in Israel and we went to meet one of them, Samuel Willenberg and his wife Ada. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Willenberg

He told us the story of the Doctor of Treblinka who had healed his wounds after a failed escape from the death camp. "Doctor Rybak succeeded in acquiring all the medical equipment he needed to tend his Jewish patients because he was such a fine doctor that the Germans used his skills too. He was a kind man and after they were healed if a patient said thank you he would respond "Never thank me for sending you back to hell". He saved my life" He then told us that Dr Rybak, his wife and daughter were killed just three days before liberation.

We had no idea that Josef Rybak had married prior to the war, had a daughter or that both wife and daughter were killed. In Treblinka a young woman doctor with two children arrived on one of the transports and came to help him in the clinic. They married with the permission of the Germans and thus were saved. Sadly Josef Rybak was slaughtered just three days before liberation. It took a great deal of further investigation to discover Josef's daughter's name, since it is almost unrecognizable in Polish. When we finally worked out the name we were stunned – her name was Zviah, the female of Zvi.

Zvi has no close relatives, has never known Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts or cousins and he treasures the distant cousins he has. His Mother Ala Hendler also lost everyone. Zvi is not rare, many families did not listen to the rumblings of hatred which grew to murderous proportions. Rumblings which repeat themselves today every time a Jew is beaten anywhere in the world or Jews are blamed for being too powerful or too rich.

There will be no public ceremony at Yad Vashem this year although if you go to the website https://www.yadvashem.org/ you can join the pre-recorded ceremony and join the virtual name reading.

Please, I beg of you, don't make "NEVER AGAIN" a meaningless expression, make it a war cry, stand up and stand out. We are too close to 1938 and must heed Kalman's warning.

I was trying to think what music would be appropriate and chose three renditions of Hatikva – The Hope

The first was recorded on the first Shabbat after the liberation of the Bergen Belsen Camp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWOkML4A8sU

The second by the IDF, our incredible young people who defend our country

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQCu9kl68Tg

Finally a rendition which shows you Israel, today, a thriving, incredible country, sweet revenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_9N1ldPtQ8

With love from Jerusalem, Capital of Israel, the homeland that proved Hitler wrong.

200418 Dickens, Virus, Tolerance and Key Challah

2004017

17th April, 2020

Shabbat Shalom!

Charles Dickens wrote a brilliant opening speech for his central character in the novel "A Tale of Two Cities", a story of Paris and London. Sidney Carton (Dirk Bogarde), a young Barrister, stood on a bridge in Paris and said "“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” So it is today.

The virus, the pandemic, Corona or Covid-19, by any other name, has brought out the best and the worst in people all over the world. Our common aim, to work for a cure, or simply to survive the next uncertain period, has brought out both the best in us and the worst. For many it is just an excuse, yet another excuse, to hate those who are different or the political party you didn't vote for, or the religious expression you didn't grow up with. In truth, we, most of us, are no better than we were before isolation, we didn't learn to be more tolerant.

Deeply observant religious communities, by definition, are separate, enclosed and their family units are large and include many children. Their very separation from society at large means they do not understand the demands of government, their belief that everything comes from above gives them a perspective that changes their behaviour and in general governments have not done a good job of reaching out to them. I'm not just talking about the Jewish sub-groups who have been targetted by both unbelievers and anti-Semites alike, but many groups who simply do not understand the implications of their lifestyle on the current situation. They are now paying a heavy price and we need to express a more sympathetic attitude. Of course I am not talking about the anti-State, hyper aggressive, tiny minority but rather those who simply follow the teachings of the Bible and their Rabbis. Perhaps this is the opportunity to understand each other.

That is an obvious bête noir, the other is the inadequacy of just about every government around the world to deal efficiently with a crisis which covers every aspect of life – from health to our economic survival. Here in Israel it has taken us to new levels of self-orientated determination to retain power despite the need for relevant, non-partisan government. The current date for probable new elections, set by President Rivlin, is August the 4th, unless someone's head comes out of the sand for long enough to recognise that the virus is trauma enough and we do not need to be in a constant state of political uncertainty. Elections, using up vast amounts of money that is desperately needed by a population desperately trying to feed its children. The current fight may appear to be about who gets what Ministry, but it is so much simpler, it's about an inability to relinquish power.

There are some positive aspects of this strange period. Parents are discovering their children!! Instead of chasing the "better life", the higher salary, the biggest promotion and the corner office, parents are discovering the sheer satisfaction of developing a deeper relationship with their children through crafting, painting, games or simply cooking together, eating together and talking about what they all really think and feel. We have gone back to the days when the primary job of a parent is to be a parent! It's a way of life that can only be positive – as long as there is enough money to pay for food and the mortgage.

Our life in solitary confinement really isn't bad. In fact most of the time I think it has been very productive. We have been in contact with friends around the world through WhatsApp, celebrated Sue and Uri's Golden wedding on Zoom and Zvi has sifted through at least 8 large cartons of history. I discovered that there is hoarding and hoarding, one type which is just pointless collecting of "things" and another which is the source of discovery of history. History of family; history of self; history of one's country and the discovery of the part that the collector played in the narrative of a new order of life. Zvi's Mother Ala, perhaps through her own tragedies, kept a record of her life that ran parallel with the history of Israel, the reasons we are here, the process and the reality. Zvi's travels through his parent's lives has been truly magnificent.

Through my travels through life most of the artefacts that tell my parents story have long been destroyed by others who didn't know or care. I intend delving through the small amount that remains after many trials, tribulations and 17 house moves. Sloughing off one's history can never replace rediscovering it.

Tell me, do you know the traditions behind baking Challah? There is the obvious one of "Hafrashat Challa" separating of challah https://www.kosher.com/learn/resources/hafrashat-challah but so much more. Did you know that immediately after Passover, for the first Shabbat after Passover, one bakes a Shlissel Challah, a Challah Mafteach or Key Challah? The tradition's origins are lost in time but it is a Segulah, or amulet for parnassah – or the ability to earn a living and support your family – although today it is considered a blessing to make it and it covers whatever type of good luck you need. I was reminded about the Key Challah just now in a conversation on WhatsApp video in which Rachel and I swapped stories of how we were going to pass our day, including constant interruptions from Yosef who was busy making his own breakfast of beautiful avocado salad on soft bread rolls. Rachel is back to making her delicious Challot after the Passover break of matzos and although I can't get there to get my share, she told me about the "Key Challah". Apparently some people eat it hot from the oven while others freeze it and use it for selling their "chametz" next Passover. Personally I like the idea of eating any bread fresh from the oven so as soon as I finish talking to you I'm getting out the flour and yeast. https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/what-is-key-challah/

Actually Rachel has been having great fun following in my family's footsteps and growing things from nothing!! She took lettuce "bottoms", leek bottoms, celery remains and all sorts of other bits that normally go into the bin, put them into the earth and is growing sprouts!! When my children were growing up, I had a big greenhouse in which I grew fruit and vegetables from seed to put into our big garden veggie patch. It was our quiet place. I may not have artifacts but those memories live on in the next generation. I too have been enjoying the fabulous colours of the blooms on our verandah. Each morning as I take my morning coffee and newspaper to sit an enjoy the view, the incredible quiet of recent days and the clear blue skies, I think about those who don't have anyone to share it with or alternatively have to share a tiny apartment with another 8-9 or 10 people. I have the openness of an unobstructed view, the luxury of space to sit, the joy of the scent of the opening orange blossom and someone to share it all with.

Of course we miss all our children and grandchildren but manage to talk to them most days. Leor and Shiri send us photos of their daily culinary trip around the world; Amiad and Noga send us the beautiful drawings of Ella and Yonatan; Gideon and Stephanie give me daily reports of life in London; Karen, Joshua and Callie of life in Manhattan and Joshua's latest epicurean adventures and even Rachel and Igal, so close yet so far, report on life in a small apartment with 3 teenagers!! In Bet Shemesh we heard of the celebration because Tomer came back from the army for a few days and Shelly continued her deliveries to those in need. We are lucky to live in a time of internet communication.

Most Shoah Survivors are now elderly and alone and as Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches Amcha, the organisation which takes care of Holocaust Survivors, is doing much more than ensuring daily sustenance. They have launched a campaign whereby during the 2 minute silence indicated by the wailing of a siren on the 21st of April, we all stand on our balconies or verandas or in our windows holding a sign which says "Remember the Past – Live for the present" in support of those who can never forget, to express our gratitude to them for their part in shaping our country. There are obviously no ceremonies this year. If I may quote Brenda Katten's words of last year "The words of Holocaust survivor and poet, Aba Kovner, ring loud and clear: “Remember the past, live the present and trust the future.” It is incumbent upon us to remember the past and, thereby, to live and appreciate the present. But to trust the future is not enough; we have to ensure it. Our younger generation must know the facts. Only then will they understand how blessed we are to have Israel."

If we do nothing else this coming week, move away from political back-biting and try to form a united front to fight one of the toughest enemies we have all faced, irrespective of who or what we are. I still find it hard to understand what began this ghastly challenge, why it began and what the purpose of its consequences, but whatever the questions or doubts, we are in this together.

We have now entered the period of the Counting of the Omer – the 49 days following the first night of Passover until the festival of Shevuot or Pentecost (Whitsun) for Christians. This year from the 9th of April until the 28th of May. The date is important for me because the 28th of May was the chosen birthday of my late Father – I say chosen because they knew he was born on Shevuot in Brzezini, Poland but not the Gregorian date. When he met my Mother and they decided to marry, he needed a regular date for the marriage certificate and she chose that date because it was the first day of Shevuot in 1935. Oh what a fascinating history we have. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/256073/jewish/Why-Do-We-Count-the-Omer.htm 

Shalom Aleichem (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם, 'Peace be upon you') is a traditional song sung by Jews every Friday night upon returning home from synagogue prayer. It signals the arrival of the Jewish Sabbath, welcoming the angels who accompany a person home on the eve of the Sabbath. Here Avraham Fried sings a wonderful upbeat version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdCBebC87Ak

Every Jewish child of the Sixties hero, the hippie Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, sings the song of welcome to the bride of Shabbat Lecha Dodi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC19kaPCMYM

Finally, Sassi Keshet of the Yiddish Shpiel Theatre and Dudu Fischer sing Shabbat songs and a few more in Yiddisch. This is one for Zvi and I and our late parents in the hope that our children will love it too.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeG0YFFjGGw

So I wish you a safe Shabbat, a productive isolation, good health and enough boxes of treasured memories, whether actual of in your heart, to keep you busy. If you don't, write them yourselves so that your children and grandchildren will know who you are.

Shabbat Shalom and love from beautiful Jerusalem

Sheila

200221 Politicians, Politics and Plagues

200221

21^st February 2020

Shabbat Shalom! I hope this missive finds you well and not too confused by the avalanche of words we are subjected to from left and right. In fact I think I made up an appropriate quote for the current campaigns

Leadership is not easy, empty eloquence
Leadership is the ability to lead us into a better future

Actually, the most appropriate quote is from Benjamin Disraeli "There are three kinds of lies; Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics"!

Our own elections are interesting and affect our future dramatically, but watching the Democratic selection process is totally incredible to one who grew up with a party system whereby the country's leader is not chosen by the people per se but rather the people choose a party, a policy, then the party members choose the leader – which is what Israeli politics is meant to do but has somehow strayed into the personal and personality leadership state.

I thought I would look into the voting history of the USA candidates and decided the party system is much better!! We Israelis watch the lead up to the Democratic primaries and the inevitable debates. Did I say debates? Nobody put forward a manifesto they simply berated other candidates, having left Joseph Biden alone for now the current target is Bloomberg, accused of being rich, not sufficiently liberal and describing one of his female staff as fat!!

I'm not suggesting that Israel's two main party leaders are much better! In fact Netanyahu's entire campaign is based upon calling everyone who isn't Likud as being left wing! Of course it is a ludicrous accusation, a party led by three former Chiefs of Staff cannot be accused of not understanding the security issues!  Since I wrote about the Democrats Debate it is worth noting that Benny Gantz, the leader of Blue and White refused Mr Netanyahu's invitation to a public debate. Here is a complete guide to Israeli debating and so much more since Jacob Magid says it far better than I https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-isnt-up-for-debate-8-things-to-know-for-february-19/

Our situation should be clear cut, should be an issue of policy and party but has become very dirty as our Prime Minister is fighting for his political life and more importantly for his name. Having chosen to fight his case in court rather than accepting immunity he now faces serious charges, the court proceedings begin a mere few days after the election and could continue for another four or five years, including appeals.

The three judges have been chosen, the site for the case is as yet undecided because the District Court, where the trial should take place, is in a predominantly Arab neighbourhood of Jerusalem which they say would be difficult to secure and has no parking or place for the press to sit. Ironically there are two options which are currently being considered – either Binyanei Ha'Uma where Demjanjuk was tried or Bet Ha'Am where Eichmann was tried!! Of course there is no comparison but it just tickled my sense of humour!

The strangest outcome of the indictments is that it has not deterred even one Likud voter from voting Likud! Actually, even stranger is the fact that the Likud Members of Knesset chose to follow Bibi wherever he leads even knowing that if he resigned they could form a government with Blue and White and put us all out of our misery!!!

I know that I am part of a tiny minority when I claim that the Corona Virus hype is imposed by forces yet unknown. Erel Margalit, Jerusalem entrepreneur, was not afraid to declare, in interviews in NYC, that he believes that the Corona Virus was caused by a leakage of biological weaponry in China; I have no idea if it is true but it is not beyond the realms of possibility. I also believe that the Virus - COVID-19 – while clearly a virulent strain, is not more dangerous than recent influenza outbreaks which killed 10,000 Americans last year alone. There is great confusion in the World Health Organisation announcements, starting with hysteria and more recent announcements tapering of to concern since there is currently no immunization process in place.

The distress of the passengers on the Diamond Princess were held hostage to an air conditioning system that ensured the spread of any illness, including the Corona Virus was made worse by the slow progress of their release.

Here in Israel the government clearly waited until the preparations were completed on the isolation unit beside Sheba Hospital – which used to be the Rehabilitation Centre – and when one sees the futuristic protective clothing of the staff ready to accept the passengers for a further two week isolation upon their return to Israel, many thoughts passed through my mind. Particularly that this was an exercise in preparation for future chemical attacks. I know I am allowing my suspicious mind to go to great lengths but after being terrified by catastrophic predictions for Asian Flu, Spanish Flu, AIDS, West Nile Fever, Swine Flu perhaps we should try to keep things in proportion while taking all the necessary precautions. Don't forget – sneezing and coughing into one's elbow it number one!!

I am very proud to report the exceptional results of the work of Impact-se yet again, particularly of our CEO Marcus Sheff. Europeans are major funders of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Education. IMPACT-se's campaign on the continent led to the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini announcing in April 2019 an investigation of the PA curriculum over concerns of incitement to hatred and violence. In September the EU's Budget Committee recommended to freeze €15 million in aid to the PA Ministry of Education. In April 2018, the EU Parliament passed legislation designed to prevent EU aid from being used to teach hate in Palestinian textbooks. Last December, the Norwegian Parliament instructed government to withhold funding to Palestinian Authority if incitement is not removed from textbooks. In January last year, the United Kingdom Parliament passed the first reading of Palestinian School Funding Bill. The bill mandates UK assistance to the PA education system to comply with international values of peace and tolerance (clip of the Bill passing first reading is here). https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/action-against-hate-in-palestinian-textbooks/

Impact-se has an unmatched library of textbooks and reports, to the sole purpose of encouraging tolerance in education at home and abroad. The library is moving to a permanent home in the Hebrew University and I am incredibly proud to tell you that the Impact Board has chosen to name this important reference center the Dr Daniel J Cammerman Collection. My son was devoted to children and most importantly to the freedom of children from hate and intolerance, he abhorred injustice and the decision of the Board, initiated by Marcus Sheff and Helen Borstein, made me even more proud and grateful for my connection to the organisation.

Ah the peccadilloes of winter. We wait and wait for the rains, bemoaning the dry and arid land then suddenly the skies open, the Kinneret fills up, waves lapping the shores of Tiberias, and the desert is abloom with wild anemones, poppies, pink cyclamen, indeed a riot of colour that defies nature! The Red South (Darom Adom) becomes a great tourist attraction – despite the determined attempts of Islamic Jihad to deter visitors with their balloon attacks with explosive devices attached. See the beauty of nature https://vimeo.com/117663234

I said pecadilloes because on the other hand while Southern Israel blossoms from the rains Southern Britain is suffering from two storms, Ciara and Dennis which have left vast areas under water, including the home of George Clooney in Sonning Berkshire – right next to where I grew my children and I am sure our former garden, beside the River Thames, is seriously waterlogged!!

In the meantime, without rain and in heavenly surroundings in far off New Zealand my beautiful great-niece Olivia married her Prince Charming Shaun watched by her Grandma Doreen, Mum and Dad Steve and Claire and her siblings Carly and Jacob and the rest of us have to make do with fantastic photographs!! Mazal Tov to everyone!!

I am walking more and more and have graduated from the walker to two ski sticks!! It is just 4 weeks since surgery and each and every day I am more grateful to the brilliant surgeons who have changed my life. My wanderings have reached beyond our car parks toward the beautiful wild almond blossoms on the empty plot next to us. I love the way they begin like pink clouds and gradually become pure white as they provide the promise of tasty treats for the wild birds – especially the bright green ring-necked parakeets, relative invaders to our skies who despite their beauty are threatening the hoopoes, wagtails and iridescent black Tsufit. Originally the parakeets simply stopped on their way north or south but decided this land of milk and honey was worth investigating further and they found it very fruitful!

Every morning I awake to a new and ever more glorious sunrise. In winter the sun hides behind the clouds and suddenly pops out from behind and lights up the edges of the great puffs of steam and creates unbelievable shapes. I try to capture the glory of the sights and if you are on Facebook you can see the results.

There is love in me – that's the title of the song and the truth of our hope, our future. Here Koolulam sing Koolulove https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J98XBmoZAi4&t=160s

God gave us the earth, he gave us Shabbat and Festivals, he gave us so many wonderful things so that we could bring children to this world. Just one more gift, small but wonderful, please give this world peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgCrmxR_1to

We all have dreams, we all wish for a kinder better world and leaders who speak for us not at us. In fact we all have a million dreams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6kaBOS3xuo

I wish you a wonderful weekend, at least some of your dreams fulfilled and time with loved ones, time to spend just loving each other and remembering why.

I wish you good Shabbes, a Shabbat Shalom, time for peaceful contemplation.

With much love from our veranda

200228 Virus Votes and Visionaries

200228

28^th February 2020

Good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom!

The only good thing about the Corona virus is that nobody is talking about Bibi!!

Did you know the reason we say "Bless you" when someone sneezes? In the Middle Ages, during the Great Plague, if someone sneezed then they were blessed becaue chances are they were infected with the plague. Now we have wonderful Alco-Gel and learned to sneeze into our elbows but nonetheless kissing and hugging is becoming a rarity! We have run out of facemasks and I cannot decide if this is a political ploy to scare the living daylights out of us; to ruin trade with China or encourage more research into immunization before the next round of influenza or MARS (MERSA). All I know is that I long for the days when, as a child, the Corona man came around with his drinks float full of bottles of sweet pop with names like "American Cream Soda" and "Dandelion and Burdock". Oh well that's another childhood memory ruined!!

Israeli scientists are just 3 weeks away from developing a vaccine https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8054769/Israeli-scientists-say-just-WEEKS-away-developing-vaccine-beat-coronavirus.html

Zvi just came in to me with a fascinating story from the Shoah that relates to the Corona Virus!

Rome, 1943,  Albert Kesserling, was the German commander in charge of the Nazi troops in Rome, and Herbert Kappler  was the city’s SS chief of police. Under the direction of Professor Giovanni Borromeo, a man who’d previously refused to join the Fascist party, the Catholic hospital had already become known as a safe haven for Jews, allowing doctors like Vittorio Sacerdoti, a 28-year-old Jewish man who had lost his previous job due to his religion, to work under false papers in the hospital. Borromeo had also installed an illegal radio transmitter and receiver in the hospital basement, which was used to communicate with local partisans.  Professor Borromeo had a brilliant idea, together with Dr. Sacerdoti, they decided that any Jew who came to the hospital seeking refuge would be admitted as a new patient and declared to be suffering from a highly contagious and deadly disease known as ‘Il Morbo di K’, aka Syndrome K or ‘K’ Syndrome, so named for the two Nazi Officers! Their "patients were instructed to cough violently whenever the Germans came near to investigate the hospital until the Germans feared the outcome of this deadly "K Syndrome" thus saving tens, possibly hundreds of Jewish lives.

https://www.history.co.uk/article/syndrome-k-the-fake-ww2-disease-that-saved-jews-from-the-nazis

Going back to childhood memories, once upon a time I thought that politicians were wisely chosen leaders who only wanted the best for the country, whatever country, kind of altruistic parents – well, that bubble burst long ago when I discovered the truth about the "honest reporting" of the BBC, but at least I thought that despite megalomania the leaders really intended leading our countries wisely, whether the policy we voted for or the policy we didn't. Another bubble burst! There are some leaders who actually set out to improve the current situation of their constituents, but they are few and far between and usually unpopular because change is never welcome and usually hurts!

In just 3 days Israel goes to the polls for the third time. It is ludicrous, it is painful, it wastes billions of shekels that should go toward health care and pensions and all because one person refuses to relinquish power. We could have had a new government nearly 2 years ago, a centrist, logical coalition of Likud, Blue and White and probably Liberman and Emet giving us the most stable government for a very long time, but ego denied us the right to stability because, quite rightly, Blue and White, Liberman and Emet refused to sit in a coalition with a Prime Minister who would spend several days a week in court defending himself on serious corruption charges. The situation is even more distressing because he refused immunity from prosecution by stepping down. Remember, it was Benjamin Netanyahu that declared that Ehud Olmert must resign his Premiership because he could not lead the country and fight his legal battles.

Oh well, Monday will tell us if we are truly democratic of ruled by a corrupt government.

Talking of Democrats with a big D, what on earth is going on in the Democratic debates? Watching the vitriol fly I think I prefer our insane politics to the USA!! Bernie Sanders is frightening! It isn't only his misinterpretation and misrepresentation of Israel, it's his praise of Castro and Venezuela, deeply reminiscent of Ken Livingstone and, yes, of Jeremy Corbyn! In fact little sense was spoken at the debates, certainly no manifesto declaring their intentions regarding the future of the United States………. and a great deal of nasty, demeaning comments about Bloomberg's wealth!

This week began with 3 days of meetings of the Jewish Agency, planning, discussion, informative lectures and debates. The various meetings were conducted with a new format which was both inclusive and hopeful. Instead of being told what the decisions were, each table was given a chart and asked to write their suggestions on post-it notes which were then taken back to the office for consideration. I didn't take part in the majority of meetings, in fact very few, because I was busy trying to do "as the doctor ordered" and walk, walk, walk. I succeeded, helped by lovely girlfriends who walked with me. Our time in Tel Aviv was made all the more worthwhile by the presence of our dearest friend Dr. Kimball Taylor who comes all the way from Cardston, Alberta, Canada to be with us. I was deeply impressed by the quality of the attendees and of course Zvi's input was, as always, relevant, coherent and impressive. The two Danny L's, Liwerant (Mexico) and Lamm (Australia), showed great leadership, speaking up and speaking out.

The highlight of our 3 day stay in Tel Aviv was undoubtedly, incredibly, the glorious visit of Kinneret Chaya to the hotel. Since she now has 4 children and is studying, our best efforts of getting together with her and Rachel always seem to fail, so I was thrilled beyond words as I saw her walk across the lobby of the Hilton! She is even more beautiful than ever, her scars really have become stars. She is just a miracle. In case you are new to my missives, let me explain just who this incredible young woman is. http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/150330-happy-re-birthday-kinneret-chaya/

As always Rabbi Jeremy Rosen teaches me something new, a different aspect of Judaism, every week. http://jeremyrosen.com/2020/02/vilem-flusser.html

This morning, Rachel, Zvi and I put aside our Shabbat preparations for a very important family occasion – the Brit Mila of little Noam Moshe Daren. My relationship with the Darens is long and loving, we are family and friends and I love each and every one of them! The Brit Milah (bris or circumcision) is an ancient tradition bringing 8 day old boy children into the fold of Judaism. It has had a bad press of late, mostly by the Europeans but quite apart from the religious aspect it has many health aspects too. Here Prof Shimon Glick explains https://msih.bgu.ac.il/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/britmila-002.pdf

Tonight we are returning to our usual routine! Zvi's boys and families are coming for supper and thanks to my wonderful freezer full of my favourite soups, quiches and lasagna carefully prepared before my surgery the table will be suitably groaning with food! I actually made two types of soup, this week my orange soup for the children and cauliflower soup for the adults, of course with the inevitable Osem soup almonds for everyone! Main course? Fresh salmon and roasted veggies for the adults and for Yonatan, veggie lasagna for the children and loads of fresh salads. Dessert will be made by Leor's girls. It will be wonderful to get back to singing the Kiddush together, led by Saba Zvi, and the children joining in the blessing of the Challah which is then "broken and thrown" as tradition demands. It is said that rather than have the challah portion pass from hand to hand the Rabbi would throw it to each student of member of the family straight from his freshly washed hands.

This has been a week of family celebrations. In far off New Zealand,  my beautiful great-niece Olivia married Shaun, her Prince Charming, with 4 generations of Olivia's family flying out to be with her. Lucky lucky Olivia and Shaun………wish my siblings has been at our and Rachel's weddings. Mazal Tov to all!!!

Anyone who thinks that the only mention of many colours in the Bible is Josephs coat, think again. As the children of Israel were becoming increasingly disgruntled with the apparent lack of progress toward the Promised Land God gave Moses instruction to build a Sanctuary made of thirteen materials—gold, silver and copper; blue, purple and red-dyed wool; flax, goat hair, animal skins, wood, olive oil, spices and gems—out of which, G‑d says to Moses, “They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, and I shall dwell amidst them.” This is the Torah reading for this week and it made me think that so many of the Jewish people are impatient and disgruntled, not understanding or following the path that is set out for us. Exodus – remember the one with Moses and the Exodus that brought us home, again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1sSfNHghZc

Andinet means "together" in Amharic. The Andinet choir was founded as part of the "We are all Andinet" project at the Jewish Agency's Haruv Absorption Center in Be'er Sheva. The project empowers newly-arrived immigrant children from Ethiopia by seeking out their special talents. This week they were a resounding success at the Jewish Agency's Board of Governors meetings as they sang "Shevet Achim v'Achyot – a Tribe of brothers and sisters". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VOLuFUBE_k&feature=youtu.be

The one thing that holds us together as a people is tradition. The traditions of our forefathers, of our ancestors, the traditions that honour our parents and grandparents. Today we are trying so hard to play a different tune on our fiddles, perhaps with those tunes we cannot keep our balance of that ever fragile roof. No I'm not talking about the homemaker and the wage-earner but rather the beautiful traditions that all of us, man and woman, can keep. Although we were poor our path in life was so much easier, we were part of a kehilla, of a community.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw The voice of Chaim Topol and the magic of Yitzchak Perlman's violin

So, almost Shabbes. Time to heat the oven, set the table and prepare for the arrival of the children. Today the sun is shining, the flowers peeking out in surprise. Narcissi, sweet smelling narcissi are bursting open and the grape hyacinth are poking through their winter green. The view is as breathtaking as ever and Jerusalem is slowly closing down, getting ready for Shabbat. The traffic going up to Gilo has already slowed as families scrub themselves clean and shining to match their homes and the aromas of 120 nations fills the air. I know that Shoshana made Kubeh Soup because she does it every week as she follows the Kurdish tradition of Friday lunch with the entire family – including Kubeh Soup!!! Michal has a mixture of her own Ashkenaz cuisine and her husband Kobi's spicy Moroccan food where s although Chaim is Turkish Daisy is from Tunisia and her cooking matches her exotic traditions……… and so it goes, traditions.

I wish you a beautiful Shabbat, a good weekend with time to sit and talk around the family table – no cellphones to break the communication.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, with all our love

Sheila