200814
14th
July 2020
Shabbat
Shalom, bonne fête de la Bastille, Holy Feast of Assumption and Mabruk for the
Islamic New Year
I'm
going to shock you! This week is going to be the most positive newsletter for
months!! In fact a newsletter full of good news from Covid to diplomacy, from
research to successes. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin (an
expression known to all Brits of the radio age)
Love
them or hate them,
sometimes our leaders get it absolutely right. Yesterday brought the outstanding
news of an alliance, nay, a peace treaty between Israel and the United Arab
Emirates. Suddenly Netanyahu's annoying repetition of "ANNEXATION,
ANNEXATION, ANNEXATION" bringing the wrath of an unsuspecting world on our
heads, turned out to be a brilliant, even devious, stratagem, giving both
Israel and the UAE a hook to hang the peace treaty on. "Israel
relinquishes her demand for annexation" in order to "legalise"
the already warm relationship with the UAE. The UAE leader Mohammed Bin
Zayyed, already in secret negotiations with Netanyahu (and President Trump
as umpire) for a long time, led the UAE to become the third Arab nation to sign
a peace treaty with Israel.
The
relationship has been warm but without the essential official diplomatic stamp.
We will now exchange Ambassadors and the doors of trade, medical and scientific
research have opened. Understand, it isn't that the UAE loves Israel, it is
just that they hate Iran. The Al
Nahayan and Al Maktoum ruling families adhere to Sunni Islam of Maliki school of
jurisprudence and Iran is, of course Shi'ite. The clear losers in this new alliance are Iran
and the Palestinian Authority – the clear winners? Netanyahu, the master
conductor of the political and diplomatic orchestra – a Maestro indeed.
I
cannot condone his personal behaviour but Prime Minister Netanyahu did well.
Good
news and almost better news!! A
study was commissioned by the European Union and the UK in April 2019, following
a report by the Jerusalem-based NGO Institute for Monitoring Peace and
Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), which reviewed a
selection of Palestinian educational materials and found that the curriculum taught to Palestinian
children was growing increasingly radicalized. Since they fund
the PA curriculum the EU commissioned the Georg Ekert Institute for International
Textbook Research (known for its anti-Israel sentiment) to carry out a report.
The EU then refused to publish the results of the said report whereas the UK fought
to publish. The UK then leaked the report which was found to have a large
number of serious errors and false results. Fantastic work on the part of our
CEO Marcus Sheff and his team and thanks to the Labour Friends of Israel and
many other British parliamentarians from the Tory Party who pushed the
publication. What was their primary error – you won't believe it! They researched
the East Jerusalem curriculum which Impact-se played a major part in changing instead
of researching the PA textbooks, then lauded the improvement!!! https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/uk-mps-demand-answers-on-botched-inquiry-into-palestinian-education-638527
Passive
immunization
means inoculating with antibodies acquired by patients who had already suffered
the disease. A large number of people from the Haredi community who had already
been through COVID-19 donated plasma and the first three patients treated with a new COVID-19 “passive vaccine,” which
was developed by Hadassah Medical Center and the Israeli biopharmaceutical firm
Kamada, demonstrated rapid, clinical benefit and have already been released
from the hospital to their homes. Professor Ze'ev Rothstein, the
Director of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem is an innovator, not a
follower, and despite instruction from the Ministry of Health, he decided to go
ahead with the trial – Kol ha Kavod Prof. Rothstein!! https://www.jpost.com/health-science/first-3-israelis-treated-with-new-passive-vaccine-recover-leave-hospital-638431
It
isn't easy to remain objective about Israel in the Democratic Party these day,
just as many pro-Israel members had difficulty with Corbyn's Labour Party, but
Presidential Candidate Joe Biden has chosen his running mate and we can only
pray that they will form a new/old return to the Democrat's relationship with
Israel. Kamala Harris was a brilliant choice. Obviously I look at every
candidate's history on Israel, but most of all I want to know that any
candidate, for whatever position, is good for the USA and I believe that she is
found deserving. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-harris-biden-chooses-a-traditionally-pro-israel-dem-as-his-veep-candidate/
I
know I promised good news but, and there are many "buts" one aspect of
the horrific explosions in Beirut is that the dangers elsewhere in the world
have come to light https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/lebanese-hezbollah-select-worldwide-activity-interactive-map
This
week, Miriam Peretz,
recipient of the Israel Prize, was heart-broken and relieved in one breath.
After 10 years the killer of her son Eliraz was caught as he crossed from Gaza
into Israel. The IDF may work slowly but we never give up. https://www.timesofisrael.com/10-years-on-israel-arrests-suspect-in-gaza-attack-that-killed-2-soldiers/
Wearing
a mask is
very annoying but essential to protecting ourselves from COVID-19, the Corona
Virus. Jerusalem Jewellers Orna and Isaac Levy, the owners of Yvel
Jewellers (I was introduced to them by my ever wonderful, beloved friend Arlene
Wittels) are wonderful artistic innovators and have come up with a diamond
encrusted gold mask!!! I love the idea – after all diamonds are a girl's best
friend!!! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8609825/Israeli-jeweler-makes-1-5m-gold-coronavirus-mask.html
For
those of us who live far from our birthplace, especially since the Covid
pandemic, the Jewish tradition of visiting the graves of our loved ones before
the High Holy Days has become an impossibility. However, thanks to the hard work
of people like Tony Blasebalk of the Cardiff, South Wales Community,
cemeteries are being put on line so that we can visit our loved ones graves
while far away. For my many old friends
from South Wales https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Cemeteries/Cardiff/Ely_Cemetery/Cemetery_Menu.htm
Zvi is
racing around today, meetings hither and thither, including his parliament – so
I don't have "the good car" and am not going to see Rachel and the
children, so I went last night instead. Actually there was something special
about going at night – I get to taste all of Rachie's fabulous delicacies for
Shabbat!!! Ayala was busy deskinning the roasted red peppers for a scrummy
salad and Rachel made about four cakes and was preparing the parsley for all
her other salads, about 10 thus far. She doesn't let me move, insisting that I
take the chance to rest!! Apparently, after I left, all three children helped
make a ton of salads etc so that they could take them to Rachel's mother-in-law
who is currently sitting Shiva. Today we will take advantage of Shabbat coming
in late and go to the beach to meet up with Leor, Shiri and their four girls
for a picnic before coming home for dinner. In fact we had the 3 older girls to
stay this week, the first time anyone has stayed in our apartment for months……
other than Rachel and family…… and I must say they were absolutely amazing. They
stuck to all the rules, stayed masked, hands washed and bathroom sprayed….all
my fears were unfounded.
The
wonderful part of going to Givat Ze'ev at night is that I came over Samuel's
Tomb to a totally different sight – sparkling lights, as far as the eye could
see, the street lights outlining the rolling hills, it was very special. In
fact the fabulous clear nights and balmy breezes have allowed us to spend a lot
of time out on our veranda absorbing the lights of Jerusalem from the comfort
of an easy chair! The colours of the foreground, of my "garden" set
the scene, the bright crimson geraniums, the pink and burgundy pelargonium,
pink and orange hibiscus and the deep green of the little orange, kumquat and
lemon trees
The herbs are suffering from the heat but if
one touches them as you pass the scents are incredible – especially the mint!
Then, we look up and absorb the busy social life of Jerusalem as families hold
barbeques almost every night, families laughing together, the restaurant
opposite has set tables outside and it is funny watching groups tackling the
idea of removing their masks to eat!! As the distance glitters in the moonlight
I try to see the different neighborhoods and distinguish friend's homes – but the
only one I can identify is that of Norman and Lola Cohen atop the next hill…..
well, truthfully, I can't tell which is theirs but I try to imagine it!!!
Today,
30 years ago, Zvi and I went on our first date. Well, I don't know
if it could be called a date because Zvi (my boss in Keren Hayesod) had to go
up north, to an IDF base on the Golan Heights, to give a lecture on Israeli
history. We drove up north, Zvi giving me a history lesson as we passed sites
of interest, and then we reached the base to find it was closed, gated and
apparently, they weren't expecting us!!! As we stood waiting for the Officer in
Charge, the cool breezes of the Golan began to make me shiver and Zvi put a
protective arm around my shoulders…………….that was it! As time went on I heard
many of his lectures, even learned how to give my own, and we support each other
in every way – not just our combined families but in our teaching, writings and
volunteering for the one and only Jewish State; ensuring that our Jewish
traditions are upheld within our families and all who visit our home can enjoy
Shabbat. In fact I promised Deidre and Keith Beville of Australia, that I would
record the now famous "Zvi Kiddush" and put it on this newsletter.
The minute I learn how I promise it will happen. In fact the secret of our success through
really difficult times is that we hold the same family, moral and ethical
standards and our love is absolute.
And
so to music.
Roy
Salomon and the lovely Binnie sent us a gorgeous clip of the Johannesburg
Male Voice Choir singing Adon Olam – Lord of the Universe – in many of its
variations with more than a little help from their audience! Love it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OWo7KqVxJg&feature=youtu.be
The
title of this one is The Evolution of Jewish Music and that's what it certainly
is – with a wonderful sense of humour!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qJRgbFeP6A
Moty
Hova and Eden Alene
sing John Lennon's Imagine for the Friends of the IDF. Eden went on to
represent Israel in the Eurovision that wasn't – here she proves her strength
as a performer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noIL7W9bmBc
So dear
friends, it's time to get myself ready for Shabbat! I love chatting to you but
if I don't begin to cook a bit we will be hungry and unable to provide our
share of the picnic food.
I wish
you a Shabbat Shalom, a blessed day whatever your faith and a week of good news
whatever its source.
With
love from Jerusalem
Sheila
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