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.
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
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