200618
18th
June 2020
Hello
dear friends, I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, I wish you shalom – peace.
I don't
know about you but I am sick of gloom, doom, viruses and politics. So, after I've
tackled the question on everyone's lips – it's good news only – well actually a
"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" situation!
A very
bright and intuitive friend told me that "American Jews are very
disturbed by the annexation issue" so are Jews in virtually every
country. No-one has actually explained why the PM decided to announce a change
in the status quo when his "Co-Prime Minister" is so against it.
I understand
your confusion – the annexation announcement was bad timing and diplomatically
unwise, but then the world doesn't exactly give a standing ovation when Israel
announces a change of any nature. On the other hand it is hypocritical to
condemn Israel for acting in the same manner as virtually all the countries
that are her harshest critics. Are we, as a people, too easily embarrassed by
anything that might rock the boat? Are we, as a people, overly concerned that
our boat will be rocked out of our Western complacency? Why does the
announcement, so many thousands of miles away, create such antipathy? Only you
can answer that one.
Perhaps
this week's Torah reading Shlach –to send, explains the sentiment. Moses sent out
12 scouts, one from each tribe of the Children of Israel, to check out the Land
of Israel before they went in. Each (except for Joshua) came back with a story
of giants and ogres and ……. Basically they were scared to go and find out for
themselves so they made up stories. In truth it was a land of milk and honey
not of ogres and famine but based on the false stories the Children of Israel
begged to go back into slavery in the land of Egypt. I rest my case.
I was
very sad to hear that a dear friend, Ishmael Khaldi, aka Ish, the first
Israeli Bedouin to become an Israeli Diplomat, was accosted and thrown to the
ground at the entrance to the Central Bus Station by security guards as he made
his way home from meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What's good
about that? After lodging a complaint with the police Ish put this sign on
Facebook. "I am a proud Israeli along with many other non-Jewish Israelis
who live in one of the most culturally diversified societies and the only
democracy in the Middle East. By any yardstick you choose, Israel's minorities
fare far better than any other country in the Middle East." He has been inundated
with messages of love from Israelis and everyone he met on his diplomatic
postings over the years.
Another
"good news/bad news" item is the passing of legislation by Norway,
leading the way to halting funding to Palestinian school curriculum which is
extreme in its incitement to violence and hatred. Here Marcus Sheff, CEO of
Impact-se explains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr8vFMqvkMw
The
horrific riots of last week, not just in the States but all over the UK and Europe,
seem to have calmed down. The reason was valid the reaction was gratuitous
violence and the expression of inverse racism. However, the repercussions are
not all bad. A determination to change and change perceptions are coming to the
fore perhaps all schools should follow the lead of this amazing teacher to help
young children understand how easy it is to become a racist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Dame
Vera Lynn epitomised the British spirit of World War 2 when London children spent
much of their time in the Underground or Tube tunnels used as bomb shelters as
London was bombed incessantly by the Germans and whole communities sang the
songs of Vera Lynn. The men were fighting in Europe and she kept up the spirits
of soldiers and their families alike. Dame Vera continued her good works for
all of her 103 years and yesterday she passed away peacefully. Songs like "We'll
Meet Again" "Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover" and so
many more are her legacy. May her soul rest in peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7sXjjll5uI
OK it's now official! Chicken soup is the perfect remedy for almost everything
including Covid-19!! Many hospitals are even putting recipes on line!
Apparently it replaces the elctrolytes lost in illness helping the body to
recover. A 93-year old Jewish great-grandmother, Betty Bobbe from Hendon in
London, has beaten COVID-19 with a combination of chicken soup and “brilliant”
medical care. She is now home after being discharged from hospital.
Not only chicken soup but good news for
gherkins! Israeli
scientists from Ben Gurion University working with Chinese scientists have
discovered that probiotics produced in the pickling process can slow the
buildup of dental plaque. https://www.timesofisrael.com/united-by-passion-for-pickles-israeli-chinese-team-claims-dental-discovery/
President
Truman
had a close friend throughout his adult life, his name was Eddie Jacobson. They
were business partners, army mates and so much more. Their friendship was to
have historic consequences for the State of Israel. Here Eddie's daughter tells the fascinating
story. https://aipac.hubs.vidyard.com/watch/0jZmnE_0O5QEtDoW8b9dOw
On
Sunday Rachel, Yosef, Talia and Ayala came with me to Shalva (www.shalva.org) They really weren't prepared
for the sheer beauty of the building and the wonderful atmosphere of joy. Our
guide was Gaby Hirsch and as we walked through the building and saw the
activities the children they understood why this was the perfect place to
honour their Uncle Daniel's memory. You have more than done me proud with your
donations to "Dr. Dan's Room" the Music Therapy Room in Daniel's
name. Those of you who have enjoyed my weekly offerings over the years have
rewarded me with outpourings of love which have warmed my broken heart. If
anyone has donated through the Shalva USA office without mentioning that the
donation goes to "Remembering Daniel" please let me know. Daniel's
father, Philip and his wife Barbara have really joined the effort
wholeheartedly. I hope it is as healing for him as it has been for me. https://give.shalva.org/daniel
Yesterday,
together with three girlfriends, I escaped isolation and we met up in a
deserted Keren Kayemet park! Sitting two metres apart at a picnic table in the shade
of an olive grove we each unpacked our contributions to lunch (well we are
Jewish so to meet without food would have been unthinkable)! Smoked salmon or "eggie"
sandwiches, coleslaw salad, a red cabbage salad, organic chopped salad, a
gluten free sweet potato quiche, and a huge box of local, freshly picked
Israeli cherries all served on recyclable, disposable plates. We were so
excited that this wasn't another WhatsApp conversation, as wonderful as they
were, we were actually, physically together! Keren Kayemet parks are all over Israel, many
with cycling or walking trails through antiquities and wonderful peaceful
forests and clearings.
Virtual Israel tours
with JNF. The whole family
can enjoy a week of JNF virtual Israel tours with a licensed Tour Guide. See
biblical and modern Israel, famous and off-the-beaten-path sites, JNF projects,
hidden gems, The Old City of Jerusalem, Ayalon Institute, Rosh Ha'Nikra, Akko,
Sderot, Be'er Sheva, Timna Park and more.https://www.jnf.org/travel-pages/jnf-virtual-tours-to-israel
Despite the cries of gloom and doom, an
Arab-Israeli alliance is taking shape. Ed Husain, writing in the UK Spectator magazine, claims
that new maps of the Muslim mind are being drawn and old hatreds are on the
run. He cites recent events in Oman, Abu Dhabi, the UAE, Dubai, Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia to suggest that this may yet be the decade of peace. This article
is pre-pandemic but still relevant
Last night we took part in a wonderful Zoom party to celebrate our
friend Marvin Meital's 80th birthday. His children managed to gather
friends from around the world who have known Marvin since he was a child in the
USA. Congratulations marvin, Mazal Tov dear friend – Lyana, Talia, Yochai and
Matan really did you proud.
And so
to Friday! Zvi will meet with his parliament friends, again keeping to
distancing and masks but the sense of social interaction is returning. I
haven't decided yet if I will just have a quiet evening in or go to Rachel! You
won't hear from me next week since I am, yet again, going in for surgery –
anyone would think that I support Shaare Zedek surgical team all on my own!
I'll be fine and by this time next week will be feeling better. I am lucky,
although I tend to have surgery every 6 months I am actually very healthy!
Micha
Gamerman creates wonderful animated clips of Jewish melodies and prayers. I
love this one of Shabbat Songs https://youtu.be/BzAtvrZSWnQ
"Lean
On Me" sung by 8th graders in the USA who missed being together
during lockdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__GEk2j6J8I
And so
to Dame Vera Lynn. I don't know if anyone outside the UK can possibly
understand the positive influence of one woman on the emotional wellbeing and fortitude
of the British people at a time of cataclysmic danger. Her voice gave hope to
citizens and servicemen alike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Dwf93z7w8
With
love from Jerusalem on a wonderfully balmy day giving the city respite from the
heat. The plants all give thanks for the cooler weather and tomorrow we will be
reminded that it is still not officially summer with the promise of rain!
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends, see you in two weeks
Sheila
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