210612 Perseverance pays

 

210603

3^rd June 2021

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends.

 

Today I intend pouring my heart out about the state of politics here, actually, that's the wrong expression because I firmly believe that, if it actually comes to fruition, Israel will have the only truly democratic government in the world! Just think about it, discount the extremes and take 3 right wing parties, a left wing party, 2 centrist parties and a representative Arab party and put them all together into a melting pot of discussion able to come out agreeing to disagree for the better of the country. Indeed of all the outstanding politicians I believe that Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz stand out. Why? Because both are willing to take a step back in order to create a working government which covers the interests of the vast majority of this country, those who serve in the IDF, work hard and pay taxes who have had a bad deal over the last 12 years. Having expressed my pleasure at the prospective government I, together with the vast majority of Israelis, am tired of the system which allowed one Prime Minister to use every possible ploy to stay in power, bring us to 4 elections and refuse to step down despite very serious legal issues. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/FBRKZCEYJ

 

Sadly, a once brilliant man, Benjamin Netanyahu, has brought us to such deeply fractured society that it will take a long time to heal. I hope and pray that this government will come to fruition and we will all reap the benefits. Finally and at last a budget so that Ministries can operate and disburse funding.

 

Isaac "Boug'ie" Herzog is a seasoned politician, understands the Diaspora, is not confined to just Jewish interests and is a real gentleman. He was the leader of the Labour Party, his last position was as Chairman of the Jewish Agency and last night he became the 11^th President of Israel. A truly worthy candidate and a man who, I believe, will do the position great honour. The alternative candidate is a wonderful woman, a woman who draws at everyone's heartstrings having lost two sons to war, but not as President of Israel. I believe that Isaac Herzog is the right person to fill the very impressive boots of Reuven Rivlin and Shimon Peres; two very tough acts to follow but he will do it well. His father Major-General Chaim Herzog was an Israeli politician, general, lawyer and author who served as the sixth President of Israel between 1983 and 1993. This is the first time that a son has followed his father into the Presidency.

 

In Israel the role of President is titular, but has enormous power in terms of the international community and is often the face of Israel to the outside world. Well, Isaac Herzog is a gentleman. Don't be fooled by his baby face, he is ideal for the job! Actually, I'm going to tell you a secret, Zvi is the one who gave him his first ever speaking engagement when Herzog was just 24. Zvi was responsible for speakers for the Diaspora within Keren Hayesod and one day he was approached to give a very polite newly wed a chance at speaking "He's President Herzog's son". Zvi immediately arranged a speaking tour in the UK, since Herzog speak perfect English having been raised with an Irish/Israeli father, and so his career began. Unlike all the other people that Zvi set on their path to success, Boug'ie has never forgotten and proudly presents Zvi to all and sundry as "the man who got me started".

 

There is just one problem with Mansour Abbas' Ra'am Party joining the coalition, well actually there are more but the current problem is that he refuses to recognise the LGBTQ community, his objections far stronger than any of the religious Jewish parties. Who would have thought that with all our security problems that might be the one that breaks the proverbial camel's back!! Today was the Gay Parade in Jerusalem which brought the subject to the forefront.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJDKO008900

 

So as we suspected the main purpose of the Hamas missile attacks was to get attention and more money! However, they have come up against a brick wall. Oh they will get the money but only if they are willing to allow Mahmoud Abbas to oversee the disbursement. Remember that one of the catalysts to the confrontation was when Mahmoud Abbas cancelled the elections in the West Bank because he realised that Hamas would win which in turn made Abbas, Abu Mazen, Haniyeh sworn enemy. In the meantime, in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Doha, Qatar, one of the leaders of Hamas spent over $1,000,000 for a week's stay including some $26,000 on massages – I was sent the receipt!! Please remember that they are about to get $300 million from the USA. The people get nothing!

 

Talking about foreign aid and Gaza; as you know most of the aid is monitored by UNWRA which is supposed to deal with education, welfare etc. The Director of UNWRA in Gaza was a gentleman by the name of Matthias Schmale, made a statement which angered his bosses and his wards  Schmale told Israel’s Channel 12 last week that the Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip appeared to be carried out with “sophistication” and “precision.” He has been relieved of his position and his deputy declared persona non grata. Hamas is furious!!

 

Impact-se has done it again. Yesterday, Bild, the most visited German news site and leading newspaper, released a piece showing how Palestinian textbooks promote antisemitism and fuel hatred of Israel under the headline “School books stir up hatred of Israel.” The article cites examples from Palestinian textbooks, sourced from IMPACT-se’s most recent report on the Palestinian curriculum. The report details lessons that delegitimize Israel, glorify suicide bombings, encourage violent jihad and justify the killing of Jews.

 

As I receive reports about the constant and often violent reports of beatings and stabbings of Jews throughout the Diaspora I am desperately worried about you. At least here in Israel we know who our enemies are and have the IDF to defend us; you don't. The attacks are becoming an everyday event, unprovoked and vicious. We have our wonderful young activists, out spoke and brave; some write about is https://boazmunro.medium.com/dear-american-progressives-your-jewish-friends-are-terrified-b24068fcf488  

 

These attacks, even if they are "just" verbal must be reported; whether the ADL in the USA or CST in the UK, don't let it go unreported to the police. Today's verbal abuse is tomorrow's physical abuse…… I know life is good but don't be complacent, please. Wake up and smell the stink of Kristallnacht.

 

If you can think back as far as pre-Covid-19, you will remember our insane social life, well, moving to a new apartment just 1 month ago hasn't made a difference! Zvi not only sings with the Jerusalem Academy of Music choir, he is on the Board. This week saw the meetings of the Academy, the ceremony for the presentation of prizes and the inevitable food. The best part was hearing the phenomenal talents of the youngsters chosen to play or sing for us. There was one cellist who brought tears to my eyes his playing was so exquisite and an oboist. This young man succeeded in bringing sweet sounds from one of the most difficult of woodwinds. The next evening there was a private concert at the Jerusalem Theatre in which the Academy Orchestra played a modern piece and then one of my absolute favourites "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Yesterday Sergio and Sara Verbitzky came for lunch and then I escaped and went to see my Rachel. The children were all home and it was great, hearing their constant chatter about what they learn and who they were with and which exams they were learning for. On my way home I managed to stop, just for you, and wonder at the panorama from Samuel's Tomb. The soft evening light turned all the buildings of the patchwork of neighborhoods turn a pinky gold, the soft undulating hills of the Golden City delineating the growth from the ancient Temple Mount to a thriving city of 900,000 inhabitants.

 

Today I went out for lunch, to a fabulous restaurant where just three weeks ago a missile landed!! Such a strange thing, it didn't bother me!! Tomorrow we are off to Dimona for Shabbat. No not to see the place that Shimon Peres created and everyone knows exists but doesn't talk about… we are going with the choir to an hotel which holds singing weekends. Should be fun.

 

Why are Caleb and Joshua so important in the history of this land? When Moses sent out the 12 spies to see what the land of Canaan was all about, 10, too lazy to really check things out for themselves, made up stories of giants and evil creatures whereas Caleb and Joshua came, searched, investigated and found a land of milk and honey. So it is today, those who have never been here have absolutely no idea what a treasure this country is, filled with "kol tuv" with goodness and beauty. Just imagine if Moses had listened to those too lazy to discover for themselves. That is part of this week's Bible reading and it seems so appropriate.

 

Back to the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, they made a flashmob at Ben Gurion Airport at a time when there were actually people there to welcome the young people of Taglit! Shalom Aleichem, Peace be with you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ_nbinWkvE

 

Keren Peles is an Israeli singer who, like so many, goes to various IDF bases to entertain the troops. Here, right on the border of Gaza, she found a young "Kravi" soldier who fought through to be there, a Commander, a girl. They sing together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGSBrPc9-os

 

Each morning, as we wake, we thank the Almighty for returning our soul to us; each morning we thank the Almighty for everything around us. Omer Adam singing Modeh Ani https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npRw36_Ftmc

 

I wish you all, wherever you may be whatever your persuasion, a good Shabbat, a day of rest.

 

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

210611 ABC Arson Bennet and Coalition

210611

11^th June 2021

 

Shabbat Shalom! Do you realise that it's already nearly half way through 2021? Where on earth has the time gone?

 

When my generation hears "Scorched Earth Policy" We think of Vietnam, Cambodia and a dreadful guerrilla war. Now when I think of scorched earth I think of the Hamas policy of burning swathes of farmland and parkland in the South by launching party balloons with incendiary devices attached and now, now they are burning swathes of forestation around Jerusalem. Tsur Hadassah twice, Kibbutz Maaleh ha Hamisha, all right near us. The stench of burning trees is still in the air, the smuts still falling on our veranda, which means that yet again the arsonists are at work. The media keeps talking about "settlements" but these fires are in a part of Israel that was ratified by the United Nations in 1947, a part of Israel, not the "occupied territories" nor the "disputed territories" and it makes me so angry. Israel is the only country in the world that increases the number of trees planted in any given year and those who want us gone, gone from Israel, gone from everywhere, destroy, they never build, they just destroy.

 

The new government is nearly in place and those who are used to power, power that has caused terrible rifts in the Israeli society, are lashing out with inane claims. Several Haredi leaders have demanded that Naftali Bennet remove his Kippa since he does not represent Judaism; frankly even though his politics are right of mine his Judaism is right on the mark! The extreme right and the Haredim no longer have governmental representation, they no longer rule the roost and they are very angry at the loss of control. This future government will indeed be led by a right winger but all decision will be taken in consultation with the entire cabinet, a cabinet which represents a wide ranging set of views, conceivably the most democratic government anywhere in the world since it is not a party based group, but rather a cross-section of Israeli society. I cannot tell you how happy I am to see the round table discussions taking place by the Bennet/Lapid/Gantz/Michaeli potential ministers. Instead of the familiar and disturbing angry, raised voices they talk and even laugh and smile together!  Naftali Bennet can keep his kippa, after all he is a Jew, a liberal minded observant Jew.

 

Talking of Kippa (skullcap) Holland chose "kippa day" when everyone was asked to wear a kippa, Jews, Moslems and Christians. Hate crimes, bullying, racism is on the rise and they wisely decided that if everyone wears a kippa then nobody is picked upon. Here in Israel we worry about you, really worry about the horrific situation which a too complacent society, wherever you are, believes that it will not get worse. It will unless some very strong measures are taken against the "woke" crowd, the mouthpieces of hatred, those who stupidly believe the Goebbels methods of Hamas/ISIS/Iran etc; they believe because they are either self-hating Jews or anti-Semites.

 

Brenda Katten is an amazing lady, a natural leader, unafraid to speak her mind, always with grace never with rancour. Please read her op-ed about the rise in anti-Semitism in today's Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/in-the-wake-of-gazas-rockets-global-antisemitism-skyrockets-opinion-670589

 

Following the exposure of the long awaited EU report on Palestinian textbooks earlier this week by German newspaper BILD, policymakers have called to make the report public. IMPACT-se obtained a copy of the report, which found that Palestinian textbooks contain antisemitism, incite children to hatred and violence and delegitimize the State of Israel. Initially commissioned in 2019, the final report has been delayed for two years and has still not been made public. The implications are clear, the refusal to publish should be construed as Anti-Israel and many senior people within the EU are demanding publication. To understand the implications please read https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/06/10/unpublished-eu-report-finds-pa-textbooks-incite-to-violence-jew-hatred/

 

Talking of those who ignore the diabolic human rights infringements of others, even bring them on to the Human Rights Council, look at these UN facts

Israel is 0.1% of the world's population and 73.9% of the condemnations of the UN General Assembly last year. None of these nations have been condemned. Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Pakistan, Turkey, Algeria, Hamas, Russia, China, Qatar Yup, that's your money which funds our constant need to prove our right to exist. Think about it.

 

The Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research, presented to President Reuven Rivlin the 35th “Jerusalem Facts and Trends for 2020 – A Glimpse”; an exhaustive and highly detailed picture of the city in numbers and figures, depicting new and ongoing trends in the life of the capital and its residents, with a look at the course in the coming years. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/jerusalem-in-2021-by-the-numbers-667356

 

Anyone who thinks that one cannot do anything to influence the media should take note from the United Kingdom Lawyers for Israel who have succeeded in their demand that the BBC remove several biased videos from their website. A small start but an excellent one.

 

We had an amazing weekend in Dimona! I never thought those words would leave my mouth! On our way down South, all of us in private cars, we stopped at a Camel farm to meet the camels and listen to a fascinating lecture on the efficacy of camel's milk which can either be drunk or made into balms, creams and lotions. We learned that a female camel or Naka in Hebrew, which interestingly enough may be the root of the Hebrew word for breast-feeding, produces milk to order – that is if the baby isn't nearby the milk is returned to the mammary glands. Camel's milk is also the closest to human milk.

 

We then set off for the Hotel called "Tslileh ha Midbar" or Sounds of the Desert, a Moroccan designed hotel where every weekend they hold musical gatherings. After a rest, shower etc we went down to the lobby where we held a "Kabbalat Shabbat" with Kiddush (the blessing over wine" and sang beautiful Shabbat songs then into the dining hall for a delightful meal. Sated and satisfied we then sang the grace after meals and retired to the huge atrium where large Moroccan cushions were set out on the tiers, perfect for lounging! A musical director led the singing and we really had fun!

 

The next day we set off for the Yerucham Lake; Mamshit, a Nabatean Village only partially excavated but fascinating https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/mamshit-national-park/ ; the "Big Crater" a geological erosion crater, created by wind and water, rather than by volcanic activity….. and wound our weary way home.

 

Home is a different home, a beautiful home. I love this place. Whenever possible I go for my evening walk in our park with my friend Roni who moved here from Ra'anana about the same time as we moved in, in fact everybody moved here about the same time as we did give or take a month! I love the warmth of the neighbours; I love hearing the sounds of Yael's group of flautists; the sound of children on their way to school in the mornings; the little ones enjoying the two playgrounds and the occasional concert in the beautiful big building. Stanley, one of our new neighbours is a really experienced gardener and when I told him that I can manage a big garden or a small veranda but this incredible 120 sq metre expanse has me flummoxed he has offered to help. Next week I will buy the big, beautiful planters to transfer my trees and of course lots of brightly coloured flowers!

 

This week's Torah reading gives us a wonderful look into how our priests and leaders should be chosen…..well apart from the bit where the opposition is swallowed up in an abyss of fire. Korach decided that he wanted to be the new leader of the Children of Israel and gathered about 250 others to put forward his challenge of Moses decision to make Aaron a priest. They came forward to the altar offering incense as proof of their worthiness to become priests themselves, however, Korach and his buddies met their death and Aaron's Priestly rod grew into an almond tree. Fascinating.

 

After a weekend singing along with the choir my head is full of the old songs, what we used to call the "Sochnut" songs so I thought you'd enjoy a trip down memory lane.

 

Land of Milk and Honey is a traditional, if monotonic song about the beauty and cornucopia of good things that this land gives forth. When Moses sent forth the scouts to report on what was found in the Promised Land, 10 scouts, too lazy to check their facts said it was filled with dreadful giants and horrors while only two discovered the truth "Eretz Zavat Halav". Don't believe the media, they don't check their facts this is a land of Milk and Honey, just when we collect the honey we tend to get stung.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LWpTD1CVXE

 

Harry Belafonte sings Hinei Ma Tov – about the good of living together as a tribe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCzUWap9rm0

 

Hardly the traditional version but, hey, it Yaakov Shwekey!! Ma Tovu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twlR38_dx38

 

Tonight David Efron is coming for supper. David is the Israeli Honorary Consul in Puerto Rico and a dear friend. He will be thrilled to find Leor, Shiri and the four girls will be here too!

 

I wish you a good weekend, that the only thing that burns in this beautiful land is the Shabbat Candles. I wish you health and the ability to enjoy every second of this amazing life.

 

With love from Jerusalem, as always in our hearts and our thoughts

Sheila