210402
2nd
of April 2021
Shabbat
Shalom, Pesach Sameach, a Blessed Good Friday and a Holy Easter.
Jews
have entered a 49 day Omer period of prayer, restraint and holding back from
excess, while Christians have just ended the 40 days of Lent; We have so much
more in common than that which separates us.
So
the 4th elections are over, the indecision continues and the negotiations for a
coalition began. Benjamin Netanyahu did many good things during his tenure, but
it is time for change, time for him to attend to his legal issues. The belief
that Israel will fall apart if he leaves is ludicrous. We are a very strong
nation of wonderful, feisty people and despite our arguments, we all contribute
to the success of this amazing country. A good leader is very important, as the
Covid-19 pandemic has shown, but that doesn't mean exclusive tenure. It is time
to unite rather than continue the created divisions that have torn us apart
recently.
There
is a new star on the Israeli political stage; his name is Mansour Abbas https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=1007
. Abbas is a dentist who studied at the Hebrew University, clever, young and a
supporter of both the Moslem Brotherhood and Hamas. He speaks of becoming part
of Israeli society rather than a separate entity within, he gives hope unlike
the Joint List of Eiman Odeh and Dr. Ahmed Tibi who are generally thought to
have done nothing to deal with the ghastly violence in the Israeli Arab society.
The strange aspect is that he garnered enough seats in the Knesset to gain recognition
in the fight for a sane coalition to oust Netanyahu – I must reiterate, it
isn't to oust Likud, just Netanyahu. Next week, President Rivlin will call the
leaders of the various parties to discuss who will be given the task of forming
a government. Logic would suggest that the centre-right parties would form a bloc
but Gidon Saar and Naftali Bennet have expressed a determination to join a wide
political coalition rather than sit with Bibi. It's going to be an interesting
few weeks….
David
Horovitz wrote in the Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-the-head-of-an-israeli-islamic-party-a-primetime-plea-for-coexistence/
A
light at the end of the Israel/PA tunnel (not one built by Hamas or Hezb-Allah!)
came this week with a paper published by two academics who studied together in
Oxford. Hussein Agha and Ahmad Samih Khalidi wrote a powerful article entitled
“The End of the Road: The Decline of the Palestinian National Movement.” They
have now published “A Palestinian Reckoning: Time for a New Beginning.” Instead
of reiterating problems, they outline an alternative strategy in which Egypt
and Jordan take part. A breath of fresh air
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/
Seder
night came and went
and most of us added an extra prayer to the fascinating story of our Exodus
from slavery to freedom. Thank you G-d for allowing us to be a big happy family
again. So far there are no Covid repercussions for the family gatherings since
the Seder. The person we should really be thanking for Israel's incredible
success in controlling the pandemic is a 47 year old doctor called Sharon
Elroy-Preis, the Head of Public Health in the Ministry of Health. She began the
negotiations with Pfizer last year, thus saving the lives of thousands of
Israelis.
Israelis
love to travel
and visit the incredible natural beauty of Israeli lakes, rivers, brooks, hills
and………snow! One positive aspect of the pandemic is that Israelis discovered
that one doesn't need to fly anywhere to discover glorious sights and sites
right here in our little country. After the rain of the winter, flowers bloom
in the rockiest of places, even in the arid Negev Desert and the Northern
valleys are spectacular. Kayaking on the River Jordan, Skiing on the Hermon,
swimming in the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret), seeing ancient monuments, walking
along the coastline or just walking the country trails. We went to the Castel,
a Crusader Fortress https://www.parks.org.il/en/new/castel-national-site/
, and as we climbed up the trail I was entranced by the display of wild
flowers, from poppies to blue iris, from wild cyclamen and lupins to fine old
trees in full blossom. As we reached the upper area around the remains of the
Castel the evidence of the War of Independence became apparent. Trenches which
hid the Israeli troops from the Jordanian army snake their way to the top, the
vantage point over the old road to Jerusalem, the "Seven Sisters"
named for the seven sharp hairpin bends toward Jerusalem. Never in my wildest
dreams, when I hung on for dear life as our bus took us toward Jerusalem in
1963 did I think that Zvi and I would come to live on the fourth sister! Today
the Castel is famous for its fine wines, indeed in the Jerusalem Hills there
are no less than 90 wineries. You should try some, we have come a long way from
the old sickly sweet Kiddush wines!! To see Israel at her most beautiful https://www.youtube.com/embed/vtdpP0_kBMw?rel=0
The
Jews of Morocco
celebrated the end of Pesach with the Mimuna, producing a cornucopia, a
plethora of colourful, sugary, delicious petit fours and a rather strange
crepe-like dessert called a moufletta. Traditionally the house, big and small
alike, is open to friends, family and strangers alike, each tasting the
delights set out on the tables. The host and hostess dress in traditional
Moroccan celebratory robes, or djelabas and the music in the background is also
traditional. You know what? Instead of me waxing lyrical, Look for yourself! https://www.israel21c.org/photo-of-the-week-celebrating-mimouna/
I am
going to see Rachel and family this morning. I haven't seen them for a whole
week and I miss being with the children, who are fast becoming adults! They are
such warm and loving children, despite becoming teenagers they still know how
to hug us all! Of course this week she isn't baking Challot because we are
still in Passover but I'm certain there will be a vast amount of food in her
refrigerator. Here in Israel you would be hard pushed to find an empty
refrigerator, we love our food, we demand freshness, all fruit and veggies are
seasonal and both men and women love to cook! Of course there is the fifth question
on Pesach, "Why, on this night, does half the population eat pulses on
Passover and half do not?" I am slowly, but very slowly, coming round to
the fact that it is ridiculous that Middle Eastern Jews eat beans, peas, rice and
so on, during Passover while European Jews do not. As Rachel says, "Mum, it's time we all
kept the same rules" It would make life so much easier to eat
"kitniot" then I wouldn't need my reading glasses to go shopping!
March
the 30th
is ever etched into my mind. On March 30th 2002, in the middle of the Intifada, a
beautiful young student was working as a waitress in a Tel Aviv Coffee Shop, on
Allenby Street. A young fellow walked into the café and she approached him,
asking if he wanted anything to drink. As she walked back behind the bar he
simply pressed a button and blew himself up. Our beautiful young woman lay on
the floor, the blazing bar on top of her, determined to survive. The MDA paramedic,
Yitzchak Kochav, made a final check around the burnt out café and suddenly saw
something move. With mighty strength he lifted the bar to find a horrifically
burned body underneath. Even in that state Kinneret managed to smile at him. He
took her to the hospital never leaving her side, even when her family arrived.
I can never forget the phone call from Orly telling us what happened. Kinneret,
daughter of our close friends Moishe and Yaffa, was given a 2% chance of
survival, burned on 85% of her body. That night a Rabbi visited her in hospital
and told the family to change her name from Kinneret to Kinneret Chaya –
Kinneret Lives.
As
those of you who have been with me for many years know, I recorded every move
every new thing, her first mouthful, her first steps, her first visit home,
every moment of her miraculous recovery. This young woman who defeated medical
science, is now a married lady with four children! Yes, with all the scars and
damaged lungs she never gave up. I love her more, though we rarely see each other.
I can never forget the moment I went to see her – the first visitor allowed – a
tiny charred figure on a pile of green pillows, and through her induced coma
she turned her head and smiled at me. Yes, the 30th of March is etched in my
very soul. 29 years later KC is thriving. She was told she would never have
children and today she is a happily married lady with 4 beautiful little ones!
KC I love you Happy re-birthday Kinneret Chaya.
That's
it folks!
One of
my favourite Israeli songs tells the story of each of us whose children grow up
and away. Oof Gozal – Fly away fledgling, by Arik Einstein https://youtu.be/ez1e2VPsRFw
"Ani
Nodadeti Le Shalom" I was born for Peace by Uzi Chitman – so many
Israeli songs are about peace…. https://youtu.be/4fz18D68Vdw
Since
it is still Pesach, a song from the Passover Haggadah. In these uncertain times
of renewed racism, especially against Jews, it is somehow important to hear the
lyrics. I warn you though, you will find yourselves singing it for months – the
haunting melody doesn't leave me. Vehi Sheamda by Yaakov Shwekey and
Yonatan Raziel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y784Uw96Rbs
Good
Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom and a blessed Holy Easter period.
With
love from the city that is so special for each and every one of us
Sheila
By the
way, did you know that Henry VIII wrote to a Rabbi in Italy to get permission
to divorce Katherine of Aragon and the Rabbi refused?
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