Fears, Faith and a Happy New Year

30th December 2022 Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom and a happy new year! Tomorrow night the Gregorian calendar tells us that even though it feels as if 2022 just began we are already into 2023! A new year and hopefully a better one. Israel has a new government. Both the outgoing and the incoming Prime Ministers spoke in the Knesset before going to the President’s House for the official ceremony. Yair Lapid outlined the multiple successes of his government, a long list of political, financial and diplomatic successes in the short period of both his and Naftali Bennet’s governments emphasizing the extensive security measures conducted through Defence Minister Benny Gantz. “I want to tell you what we have achieved so that history will not be changed” His careful listing of achievements was impressive and clear. Mr. Netanyahu then spoke listing the intentions of the incoming government and here the emphasis was on security, Iran, the cost of living, including the cost of housing and the denial that the religious status quo would change. I pray that the last statement is true because the rest is a natural part of governance. Perhaps the most emotional of appointments is that of Speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana. Speaker Ohana is a homosexual and has thankfully, never hidden the fact. He took his position on the podium watched by his partner of 18 years and their two children. I wish him and his lovely family the very best of luck, he has his work cut out keeping the rowdy and opinionated Israeli Knesset quiet! I am always reminded of the late Georgie Thomas (from Cardiff and a friend of my father’s) who became famous for his triple call of “Order, order, order” when the Members of Parliament became a little rowdy for his taste. In fact yesterday became rather rowdy as the outgoing parties decided to imitate the cat calls of Likud when they came into power! Yesterday, President Isaac Herzog held a large reception for the many Christian religious leaders whose centres are in Jerusalem. Copts, Catholic, the many Orthodox sectors, Protestants, Evangelical and many others, indeed all who celebrate this blessed period. There is nothing exceptional in that, the Israeli Presidents throughout time have had a close relationship with all the Christian leaders, there is also nothing exceptional in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, and yesterday was no exception. The new (and old) Interior Minister Aryeh Deri greeted all those present with great warmth, giving them a blessing for the New Year. Living in the UK I never knew what Sylvester was – the new year was simply an opportunity for a party, a knees-up, a celebration and a kiss at the end of the evening. Auld Lang Syne was obligatory even if you couldn’t quite get the exact words written by Robbie Burns! In many parts of Eastern Europe, however, Sylvester is a semi-religious holiday which made Aliya with the various Eastern European immigrations. The daft thing about Israelis celebrating Sylvester is that it is the anniversary of the death of St. Sylvester who as Pope brought in a law banning Jews from Jerusalem! In Yorkshire they would say “There’s nowt as queer as folk” I have to return to the new government and the dismay, nay fears, raised in the Diaspora that the question of “Who is a Jew” and of course the subsequent Right of Return will be changed. This is not a government I would have chosen, you already know that, but one can be reassured that such changes cannot be introduced because the majority of those in this government would not allow it. Likud still holds sway and although the person holding the position of Minister of the Interior is an orthodox Jew, Aryeh Deri, this is not his first time in that position and in the past he upheld the status quo. I hear the anger, the assumptions that this government will change the status quo on so many levels. “I’ve had it with Israel, I can’t identify with the new direction” Wait! Before you throw out the baby with the bathwater, wait! The media has had a field day ensuring that their prognosis of a changed country, a extreme right wing highly religious country that will exclude everyone and everything that they stand for has become the assumed truth – but then sensationalism is the manner of today’s media! Please, give us a chance, don’t abandon us, the checks and balances of democracy are firmly in place and the extremes will not be allowed to control the future of this country or our relationship with the Diaspora. Amichai Chikli, the son of a Conservative Rabbi who was active in the Masorti Movement’s Noam youth group as a young man, has been chosen as the Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Social Equality. Chikli was active in the Masorti Movement’s Noam youth group. His path will not be easy at the beginning as he has to change the preconceptions about this government. I wish him success and hope that he renews faith in our beautiful country. Ron Dermer, former Israeli Ambassador to the USA is the new Minister for Strategic Affairs, a position which entails contact with the White House and relations with the countries of the Abraham Accords The incoming Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu needs no introductions as he enters his 16th year in that position, admittedly with breaks, a world record for a democratically elected leader, but too few understand the achievements of the outgoing government, until yesterday led by Yair Lapid. A highly impressive few months. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/1672145137-analysis-lapid-s-legacy-a-term-summary Gosh I’m ready to write happy news and surprisingly there is lots of it! Azerbaijan is opening an Embassy in Israel, completing the enhanced diplomatic relations with that predominantly Moslem country President Biden signed a budget bill including $3.8 billion for Israel. Yes, I know it isn’t direct financial aid but rather monies returned through the US aeroplane and arms industries, but it shows the President’s adherence to his promises. Israel is on her way to a population of 10 million! In fact, the Bureau for Statistics latest census for 2022 shows a population of 9,449,000 about 45% of the world’s Jews. 73% are Jews, 21% Arab and 5% others. When one thinks that the population of the nascent state was about 806,000 that’s pretty good going! The number of new immigrants has gone up directly as a result of the Russia/Ukraine war. 97 autistic new recruits to the IDF completed their basic training last year. Three more have just begun officer’s training. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is growing. 87% of Christians declared themselves happy to live in Israel. Israel's junior science team won six medals at the 2022 International Junior Science Olympiad, in Bogota, Columbia The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed an historic concert at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and played Hatikva. The first time that the National Anthem was played in an Arab country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYXbdjLvCfw&t=765s Sindyanna is an organisation which encourages independence in Moslem Israeli women together with Jewish Israeli women https://www.israel21c.org/watch-empowering-women-to-find-their-voice/ Just in case you think we all sit around discussing politics and waiting for terror attacks, I thought I’d show you what the tourist will find in Israel in 2023. https://www.touristisrael.com/events/ Quite apart from events and festivals, one thing for sure is that you will find great food and burgeoning tables wherever you go! In fact, I decided that since Israel is always left off the list of great food countries, we should make our own website and all of you will vote us to the top!! How about the “Best Breakfasts in the World”? Every visitor to Israel has already experienced the Israeli breakfast but for those of you who have not, let me give you a glance at the average menu in restaurants and hotels. Breads: Pita, croissant, crusty French baguettes, Rye, Wheat, gluten free and Spelt breads Burekas: cheese, spinach, mushroom Eggs: Boiled, hard boiled, shakshuka, omelettes by request with various options, fried, scrambled, poached and coddled. Salads: Israeli freshly chopped salad, potato salad, corn salad, tuna salad, egg salad, lettuce, peppers ad infinitum! Fish: Smoked salmon, pickled herring in various sauces, sardines, gravadlax Fruit: Fresh fruit salad, prunes, apple sauce, plum compote, citrus salads Hot dishes: Porridge, semolina, mini quiches Add to this fresh fruit juices, tea and coffee and you may begin to understand why I want to start this competition. I know we would win! What do you think? If I start a web competition would you vote for us? At this precise moment our lovely Shelley Silver is talking to Zvi about her upcoming post-IDF trip to North, South and Central America. She has set out her intended destinations but because she is an exceptional young woman, she wants to know everything Zvi has learned on his multiple trips to those places – the important places to visit and learn about the history and culture of each country. She really is a special person and anyone who wants to entertain her will benefit from her wonderful personality and ability to communicate about her Israel. Luckily Zvi has lots of friends and family in all of the above locations so she will find a welcome wherever she goes. Let me know if you want to meet her! Incidentally, Shelley’s IDF service was in the very camp where the autistic recruits begin their IDF service. I am back to walking and am beginning to do so without the neck brace! The sense of freedom is surprising! My physiotherapist is a marvellous young man and to the surprise of most non-Israelis, I get one-on-one attention as often as I need without charge! Just another aspect of Israeli life! So dear readers, please, please, please, don’t jump to conclusions about our future – remember we have been through worse times as have most of your countries. We don’t always get the governments we want, but that’s democracy. What songs are appropriate to our mood this week? Something about unity, hope…… hmmmm let me think… The Ruderman Foundation is all about bringing people together, about US/Israel relations, about inclusion. This is a song about “Yachad” togetherness, inclusion with Koolulam in a project by the Ruderman family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZitrjOnyTzE I had never heard of this song or singer but while searching for a song for you, I found it and loved it. “Chaverim”, meaning friends, is all about honouring our differences and being able to empathise and connect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6xRygeLVnM&t=11s Finally, the song we all love, even the most cynical must admit a sly smile or tear at Satchmo’s rendition of “What a wonderful world”. We can either sink into despair or follow this song of hope, of love and unity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqhCQZaH4Vs What do I wish us all for 2023? I wish us health, first and foremost. I wish us greater tolerance, greater understanding, greater patience (by the way patience and tolerance have the same root in Hebrew. Savlanut is patience and sovlanut is tolerance). I wish us a year in which we celebrate our differences finding beauty in the traditions of the other. Most of all, as an Israeli, I want Israel to be judged on her achievements, on her incredible pluralistic community, on her rainbow population, on us, the ordinary, everyday citizens who pray for peace, rather than the NYT, BBC headlines. In fact, I pray that the media begins to write the whole truth instead of the half truths that condemn Israel and gloss over the racism of our region. Finally, and maybe most importantly, come and see for yourselves. As my young great-nephew James kept repeating when he came to Israel with his future wife (my great niece) “but wait a minute that’s not even remotely like the reports on the telly, everyone is just going about their own business”! Good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom, Happy New Year, Happy Hogmanay, a good Sylvester and a 2023 full of hope With much love from Jerusalem, the most enchanting city in the world. Sheila

Doughnuts, Doldrums Christmas and Chanuka

23rd December 2022 Shabbat Shalom, Happy Chanukah and almost a Merry Christmas! It is hard to believe that 2022 is almost over, can it really be 12 months since the beginning of the year? Time seems to race and the world around us to become more frenetic by the minute! To slow down our racing thoughts I will very briefly skim over the politics and then try to talk about simple everyday things that will put a smile on your faces! Michael Siegal has devoted his adult life to US-Israel relations between people and last week he was awarded the coveted Presidential Medal of Honour for his work, together with his wife Anita, for the Jewish community in fostering ties between Israel and the USA. Michael served as Board Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America and more recently as Chairman of the Board of the Jewish Agency. Michael has worked assiduously, and I must say, with great good humour, never expecting or chasing rewards, which makes this award so well deserved. There is no choice but to broach the subject because I know that most of you are disturbed and somewhat confused by the current trend in Israeli politics, or should I say in the choices set before the Prime Minister elect. The elephant in the room is undoubtedly the potential changes in the law of return, with the emphasis on the word potential. I think that it is fair to say that most are not worried by the introduction of more Jewish studies in schools, as long as the quality of the 3 Rs is not affected or academic studies in senior schools, after all this is a Jewish country, however, and this is a big however, to think that men who have never served in the IDF (and whose children will not serve in the IDF) will be involved in security decisions, is beyond the pale for most of us. To contemplate changes in our basic principles is a major source of discussion even before it happens. Prime Minister elect Netanyahu firmly believes he has a handle on future attempts to change the above, and it is true that any changes to fundamental laws, indeed any laws, have to pass the Knesset and then can be taken to the Supreme Court before they are enacted, but our connection to the Diaspora, our connection to the international community is sacred and must not be endangered. Prof. Alan Dershowitz explains the Israeli Parliamentary system https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/19254/israel-democracy United States President Biden came down clearly on the side of Ukraine, sending an official aeroplane to bring the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States. Zelensky did not take his best suit out of mothballs, but rather came wearing his bottle green sweatshirt and cargo trousers, in an act of defiance much as Winston Churchill wore his famous boiler suit. No, I am not in any way shape or form making a comparison of the leaders! Zelensky wanted to show that he is a man of the people and his people are in a war situation and cannot be concerned with dress protocol. United States support is essential to the Ukranians and the natural resources of Ukraine important to the United States, in fact many countries in the West. Never forget that countries don’t have friends, countries have interests and right now support of Ukraine is of interest to the US and rightly so. The big question is whether this can be considered a slap in the face, a loss of face internationally, for Vladimir Putin, who becomes more dangerous as he loses face time and again. As always, any threatening situation in Russia causes a huge rise in anti-semitism and over 60,000 new Olim have come to Israel over the last 10 months, predominantly from Russia. I love new words, in fact, even when I write to you my thesaurus is my best friend! This week I learned a spectacular word which is not intended as a comment on the new government elect, it is almost onomatopoeic, KAKISTOCRACY! Doesn’t it sound amazing? The antithesis of a Meritocracy, it means government by the least suitable or least able of the community. King Charles III had a busy Chanukah! At the beginning of the week he visited the Community Security Trust who do incredible work fighting antisemitism in the UK https://cst.org.uk/about-cst indeed his Mother was deeply impressed by the organisation which protects British Jews, to the extent that she always invited representatives to the Royal Garden Party (including my amazing nephew and niece Steven and Claire Bloom); on to the South Hampstead Girls School where the students were preparing toys and puzzles as a special addition to food parcels for refugees, indeed he himself brought foodstuffs to add to their parcels; he then went on a Chanukah visit to JW3 and a reception for Jewish Seniors and Holocaust Survivors including dancing the Hora with Anne Frank’s stepsister. https://youtu.be/G3En4QJuyyk Talking of Chanukah, too many people have no idea of what it’s all about! Here the late Chief Rabbi Jonathan Saks explains the connection between Chanukah past and present and its relevance to today. https://youtu.be/omqCp3YhObI As we are all too aware, antisemitism is rife all over the world, especially in schools and universities and a decision has been made in the UK that in addition to Holocaust education, which has always been part of the curriculum, the subject of antisemitism (racism) is to be taught in British schools. Both Chanuka and Christmas play a huge part of Israeli life. In both Nazareth and Jerusalem, the festivities are already underway, Israelis of all persuasions are enchanted by the highly decorated, huge Christmas trees and the streets lined by festive lighting, special markets and churches lit with multi-coloured lights. The sense of expectation is high and the sheer joy in the air is apparent. Jerusalem municipality dispenses free Christmas trees to her Christian citizens. A friend spent a few days in Nazareth, showing her grandchildren what Christmas looks like here in Israel and she was overjoyed with the celebratory atmosphere which reminded her of her childhood in Wales where we were surrounded by Christmastide! Similarly, in Jerusalem, both the old city and the road to Bethlehem, called Hebron Road, decorations herald our proximity to Bethlehem. The Brigham Young University holds its famous Carol Concerts as does the YMCA, the beautiful building right opposite the King David Hotel. Just one aspect of the incredible rainbow of humanity that makes up Israel, the wonderful Mohammed Dajani Daoudi, a devout Moslem and Palestinian educator who is on the International Advisory Board of Impact-se, fills his Facebook page with greetings for both Chanukah and Christmas! Mohammed is from one of the oldest Jerusalem families. Did you know that Christmas is not always celebrated on the 25th of December? The Armenian church for instance celebrates on the 6th of January and the Copts on the 7th of January. In fact, the Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian, Russian and Syrian Christians all celebrate on the 6th and 7th. Jews complain that we have four or five denominations within Judaism, although few will admit it, but Christianity also has much more than Catholicism, Protestantism (and dozens of sectors within that heading), LDS, all of the above and so on and so forth in fact just in Jerusalem we have 52 denominations of Christianity – who knew?. It sometimes feels that the leaders of each and every one of the sectors encourages splits rather than gathering our strength in prayer. Once upon a time, in the UK, Chanukah meant latkes, very specific potato fritters, not even remotely like potato pancakes, they are very fried, very potato and very crispy and who cares about diets! However, since coming to Israel I have discovered sufganiyot! In fact, the streets, supermarkets and patisseries have all become one big sufganiya! They used to be simple doughnuts with jam in the middle, usually strawberry jam, and when eaten would land in your stomach and sit there reminding one of their presence for hours to come. Today, however, they have become an epicurean experience, as gourmet sufganiyot emerge on display to tempt us into purely sinful ecstasy. Roladin began as a bakery, became a coffee shop, continued to grow branches all over the country and has turned the simple Chanukah experience into an outrageously delicious sin. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at these creations https://www.israel21c.org/feast-your-eyes-on-israels-most-outrageous-hanukkah-donuts/ Just one topic of conversation managed to put politics into second place, Messi! Actually Messi and Argentina and the truly phenomenal game played out against France in the World Cup Final in Qatar. I don’t know if the Israeli love of Argentina stems from the telenovelas on Israeli television or the Israeli love of Latin music, but even I found myself shouting in delight and groaning in disappointment at every goal and suspected foul! I enjoy the game of football and its incredible athleticism, but have never been as involved, would never choose football over a good movie, but this time Zvi and I didn’t miss a game! There was, of course, a big question over the big diaphanous djellaba draped over Messi’s shoulders at the ceremony but I don’t think it detracted from the sheer joy of the fans. So far Zvi has performed candle lighting at four separate events and parties, glowing in the light of the candles and the delight of the participants! The only night that we lit the candles at home was on Tuesday when we had two grand-daughters staying over. Gili (daughter of Zvi’s son Leor) and Ayala (Rachel’s daughter), speak at least ten times a day and decided to spend time together at our place which was wonderful. Zvi took them to Mahaneh Yehuda market, Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall and Yoel Solomon street and its fascinating family compounds, all in the city, doing his best to give them a little history between their delight at the fashion shops, jewellery stores that are of far greater interest to two 14 year old girls! I swear that Israelis are on the move every night of Chanukah! The main road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is one continuous snake of cars, in both directions! Parties abound, Israelis love to entertain and Chanukah is a great excuse to bring all one’s friends in. So far we have been to an event organised by Ronit Dagan in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Givat Massua, or Beacon Hill, so named for the beacons lit to announce Shabbat or Festivals; on Monday we went to the 80th birthday party of Rabbi Jeremy Rosen at the home of his brother David. It was a wonderful evening because I got to talk to David and to Angela, the little sister I hadn’t manage to meet. Angela was fascinated by my stories of her two eldest brothers over the decades. David spoke of his big brother’s mischievous nature, the aspect of Jeremy’s personality which makes him an incredible mentor, teacher and leader, always questioning, always taking the intellectual tack while remaining an observant Jew. Tuesday we were home and then Wednesday we went to a group of Zvi’s old friends in Ramat Aviv. Again, Zvi did the lighting to the delight of all. Yesterday we went to Irit and Itzik Lev’s home in Tel Aviv, candle lighting and the delight of seeing old friends. Tonight we are with Zvi’s boys and families and I am responsible for the latkes. My recovery is such that I not longer have dispensation from bringing cooked goods to the celebrations!! Tomorrow more old friends but at our home. Dina and Yoram Grinspan and Tommy Segev and anyone else who wants to turn up are coming for afternoon tea and the lighting of the last candles, the eighth night. I wonder which Chanukiah, the nine branched candelabra, we will use. Maybe the one made of empty shell cases from the War of Independence made especially for Zvi’s wonderful father Kalman by one of his soldiers – making ploughshares from swords eh? So we come to the end of another week and the beauty of Shabbat. Time for some meaningful songs methinks. The Byrds took the words of Ecclesiastes with the music of Pete Seeger and created a song or all seasons, Turn, Turn, Turn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snZKnES4ng4&t=5s For my Christian readers, a beautiful song which expresses the spirit of Christmas more than any other song, for me. The Little Drummer Boy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc How can I end the missive without Koolulam? Of course I won’t! Lean on Me, something we do not do enough. Lean on me the essence of friendship, amity, peace between brothers, a wonderful song so catchy that I am sure you will just sing along. However, please really take the words to heart…..you can always lean on me, irrespective of whether you eat sufganiyot or Christmas pudding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOX5TGmGdRs&t=6s I wish you a peaceful weekend, a Gut Shabbes, a fine Christmas, whether you go to synagogue, temple, Cathedral, church or tabernacle. All I ask is that you show respect to the other, to those who differ from us. Different is beautiful, different is colour, just imagine a rainbow of grey! With love from Jerusalem, conceivably the most diverse city in the world which most certainly upholds her 9/10th share of beauty Sheila

Chanuka, Christmas and Coalitions

16th December 2022 22 Kislev 5783 Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Almost Chanuka and the 19th day of Advent “Jews are the canary in the coal mine. When Jews feel compelled to leave the light of freedom is being extinguished” Gosh that sounds so dramatic, even melodramatic, except that it has proven sadly true. Being Welsh, home of the coalmines, we learned all about the canaries, the beautiful little birds that sang until the poisonous gas levels became too high to survive. It feels that every day brings new attacks, physical and verbal, whether on the streets of New York, Amsterdam, London or Los Angeles or in the United Nations as yet another anti-Israel vote is carried. Nothing new about anti-Semitic attacks, or for that matter votes in the United Nations, in fact it is all too familiar. The sad fact is that I don’t see a new Judah Maccabee in our near future, someone brave enough to stand up and fight. Rabbi Jeremy Rosen wrote an excellent essay on the subject. His introduction “If we were to go back two thousand one hundred and ninety years ago, to the time of Antiochus IV and the Maccabee Revolt, we would find a state of the world and Jewish affairs in many ways similar to today.” https://jeremyrosen.com/2022/12/chanukah-then-and-now-2.html For anyone who doubts the veracity of the Chanuka story, or indeed of any of the festival stories, seeing them as a nice legend, the story was proven this week in a magnificent find by Israeli archaeologists – a container of silver coins from the period! https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/archaeologists-unearth-first-proof-of-maccabean-revolt-just-in-time-for-chanukah-6r1wDx84feix7t9SJJxD9L The anti-Israel lobby on campuses, particularly in the USA, is not a new thing. Khaled Abu Toameh is conceivably one of Israel’s greatest protagonists in the world of journalism and hasbara (information). He wrote this article in 2009. The first line stated. “During a recent visit to several university campuses in the U.S., I discovered that there is more sympathy for Hamas there than there is in Ramallah.” Khaled continues his campaign to convince students all over the world to recognise the truth not the cant pumped at them from morning to night. One would think that his words would carry more weight, since he is a Moslem, but his fight gets harder and harder. Talking of Moslems, anyone who puts all Moslems into one basket, claiming there are no “good” Moslems is not my friend. Not only Khaled abu Toameh, but young Israelis like Yahya Mahamid, Magde Qasim and Mohammad Kabiya put their lives on the line every day as they travel the world talking to students. Yahya was a senior officer in a fighting unit of the IDF and a wonderful human being with a smile that lights up the room. In the same vein, when Rishi Sunak was voted Prime Minister of Great Britain, I heard the mumblings about a Moslem Prime Minister, but time and again he has proven the doubters wrong. Yesterday, the House of Commons fell silent, in the presence of Survivors, to commemorate the anniversary of the day that Sir Anthony Eden made that horrific announcement to the House. “On 17th of December 1942, Jewish Labour MP Sydney Silverman asked Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden if he would make a statement on the Nazi plan to "deport all Jews from the occupied countries to Eastern Europe and there put them to death before the end of the year". Mr. Eden replied: "Yes, Sir, I regret to have to inform the House that reliable reports have recently reached His Majesty's Government regarding the barbarous and inhuman treatment to which Jews are being subjected in German-occupied Europe." It was then that MPs first learned that Jews were being exterminated, and they were so stunned that they stood in silence. A journalist at the time wrote: "I can tell you there were many eyes which were not dry and there was not, I dare swear, a throat without a lump in it." We still don’t have a government, despite the 10 day extension given to Netanyahu by President Herzog. As I believe I mentioned, Netanyahu is not keen to give sensitive positions to the extreme members of his coalition but may do so to ensure his seat. In order to “calm the qualms” of our allies he just made an announcement that all major decisions will be made by him not his Ministers, which also disturbs me! There have been moves by former Israeli politicians suggesting a totally different coalition, entailing middle-of-the-road Parties joining the coalition instead of the extremists, thus forming an ideal coalition, but sadly I cannot see anyone accepting the challenge. In Arabic it is called Qasar El Yehud translated to English “Tower of the Jews” showing yet again the link between the Christians and the Jews. Qasar El Yehud is where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. This week Jordan announced a huge expansion of the site on the Jordanian side of the river, to be named “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”. Qasar El Yehud is on a particularly narrow section of the Jordan River, just a few metres between the Jordanian and more famous Israeli side. Pilgrims, in white gowns, dip into the waters, with or without priests, emerging with a greater sense of being, a knowledge of who they are. A Christian holy site in both Jewish and Moslem countries, close enough to hold hands. It is a truly spiritual place. Eddie and Ilana Podolsky are very special people who happen to be Zvi’s family. They have a remarkable relationship with both Judaism and Israel. Eddie wrote to me about a group of Israeli soldiers who came to San Diego and stayed with families. I did the same many years ago but Eddie’s story really reached my heart. “There’s an Israeli organization called Metiv that helps people deal with psychological issues. Metiv has a program called Peace of Mind (https://metiv.org/en/peace-of-mind/) to treat IDF soldiers with mild to medium cases of PTSD resulting from their army experience. This is an amazing organization. It is a 9-month program where they take 15-20 soldiers that served together in one unit and treat them with therapy. One of the final portions of the program is a week in a city in the diaspora, where soldiers spend their mornings in group therapy and their evenings with families and the community. There was one soldier in particular, who has an amazing musical ability and voice, found a way of channeling his issues through song. He has written some amazing songs, full of meaning where you can see he is pouring his heart in every word he sings. Worth listening to them all, but the one that impressed me the most is Lo Nigra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIEwVJ7Xd78) , where he talks about his relationship to his son. The video has some animations that were designed by him. I still cry when I listen to it.” We had another busy week, but mostly in things that are of little interest to you, what in Israel are called “siddurim”! You know, shopping, tidying, hanging paintings (finally) cooking, meeting friends, normal everyday stuff, but last night was a special event. About 17 years ago Zvi told me about a group of young Jerusalemites of every centrist persuasion both politically and religiously, who wanted to change Jerusalem back to being a place that young couples want to live, work and bring up their families, led by a fireball called Ofer Berkovitch. Fascinated, I went along, Zvi was on the committee to elect them. I was impressed by their youthful enthusiasm but uncertain that they could convince the voters enough to claim a seat on the Municipal Council. Well they did! In fact that first year they had one seat and went on to have four seats but they really fought well above their weight, doing their very best to make this holy city attractive to young families. Last night, 15 years after the Hitorerut (Awakening) party was officially founded, Ofer resigned, to take up a place in the general workforce – after all altruism is all well and good but he now has a wife and three children to support! The farewell party was in Kedma Restaurant in the Mamilla Mall, opposite the walls of the Old City. Kedma has huge windows overlooking the footpath alongside those ancient walls, giving me a prime view of that impressive site. What amazed me is that at 9:30 at night, hundreds of people were making their way from the city to the Jaffa Gate and onwards, a constant flow of people of every persuasion. Of course, the media would never report this normal, happy, friendly activity because it didn’t include anger, shooting, beating or fighting! That’s life in this part of the world! We do normal things; indeed, we are very normal people who live in a problematic neighborhood! Jew, Christian and Moslem we all head for that most fascinating of places, the Old City of Jerusalem so important to us all. Yitzy Kasovitch is a Haredi man from Florida who loves Lego! He makes all kinds of Jewish orientated pieces and figures and this weekend he will light the biggest Lego menorah in the world at a Tel Aviv Lego store! It has136,000 Pieces, is 4.5m tall and 4m wide. I wonder if it is in Guinness!! Tonight we are going to our friends Ora and Avner Rosengarten for Shabbat Dinner. It should be great fun because we love all the other people who are invited, and Ora and Avner’s amazing children too. Tomorrow morning we have visitors, I never know how many, but they will include Gideon Selinger who has come back from New York where he visits his son, who incredibly knew my Daniel. If music be the food of love play on. Believe it or not I think I have found a Kuloolam that you haven’t heard yet! It’s gorgeous rendition by a Federation Mega Mission together with the people of Carmiel and Misgav. “One Day” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNDX9Vgq80o In Jewish tradition we give thanks for just about everything! There are so many blessings that it is hard to find the right one. One blessing, one thanksgiving that I particularly love is the one we give after a meal, actually just a part of a much longer grace but very special on its own. Tsur Meshelo Achalnu, with translation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b727Reivs3Y Bob Dylan wrote the words in the ‘60’s and they stand even truer today. When will the question be answered? Who knows because the answer my friends is blowing in the wind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld6fAO4idaI&t=84s “And how many years can some people exist Before they're allowed to be free? Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind” The answer is truly blowin’ in the wind. Chanuka is almost upon us. Although it we developed a way to engage children with the promise of gifts, it has nothing to do with gifts, indeed most people think it is all about the miracle of a single cruse of oil that lasted for 8 days, but in truth, or in my truth, the miracle is not so much the oil but rather that we stood up for ourselves, as Jews, for the first time. In today’s Israel we see the living history from those brave men, from the story of the Macabees in three towns, three thriving communities, Maccabim, Reut and Modiin and visit the graves of the original Maccabim. We live our history every day of our lives and try as they may, nobody can deny. Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom on a glorious day, blue skies and slight chill in the air promising to be a fine Shabbat with the sun shining on Jerusalem, her white buildings covering the hilltops in the distance. With love Sheila

Fickle, Football and Future

9th December 2022 Shabbat Shalom! How are you? What’s going on in your part of the world? Is it quiet enough that you actually get to talk about the weather? Have you been following the World Cup? The World Cup is being held in Qatar, which in itself is both strange but hopeful; strange that tens of thousands of football tourists have descended upon a theocratic principality including many women who have never in their lives considered wearing a hijab; however less incredible than Iran being on the UN Commission on the Status of Women or Pakistan on the Human Rights Council! Hopefully it is an omen of change in that region. Although Qatar has not yet signed the Abraham Accords they have maintained diplomatic and business relations with Israel, gosh we live in confusing times! Zvi and I have watched some amazing football over the last couple of weeks, brilliant footwork, which when one is playing FOOTball is of supreme importance. The way that they dart and dodge, rarely colliding, relying on pure athleticism, makes the game all the more fascinating. It also makes choosing who to support to win all the more interesting if you bring history into the equation of favourite family teams! The teas that have reached the quarter finals, Portugal, France, England, Croatia, Brazil, Netherlands, Argentina and Morocco, a very mixed bunch in Jewish history! Most of those countries either got rid of us or they fought with or harbored our enemies! So Zvi and I had a deep discussion and decided upon two favourites, England and Morocco, depending upon against whom they play. It’s a fascinating aspect of the game, not just the football but the who did what to whom! Gosh that felt good, starting this week’s newsletter off with something which is ultimately banal, normal, everyday and rather festive- especially since Zvi just came in the door with my morning cup of coffee! Of this week’s regular news items Al Jazeera has filed a lawsuit against Israel, the IDF, in the International Criminal Court in the Hague for the death of Shireen Abu Aklah! If I told you that no less than 12 Al Jazeera journalists have died in action but this is the only one where they not only keep the story alive but actually blame the defending army, would you be surprised? That’s about the same level of logic as Kanye West calling upon the Jews to forgive Hitler, actually no it isn’t, he’s a publicity seeking twit and Elon Musk’s response that he wanted to punch West barely covered most of our reactions. Despite the fact that if West had half a brain it would be lonely, his influence created such a reaction that the NYC police report a 125% increase in anti-Semitic incidents since his outbursts. President Isaac Herzog has been on an official visit to Bahrain where he was welcomed with exceptional warmth. Bahrain! Bahrain which a short while ago barely mentioned Israel’s name without choking, has signed the Abraham Accords and when the leaders understood how problematic their schoolbooks are asked Impact-se to work on their school books to remove hatred from their children’s lexicon – a change that has come from the top down. As one would expect a central topic of conversation between the Israeli President and King Khamad ben Isa Al Khalifa was the “Two State Solution” aka, the Palestinian question. I firmly believe that one of the most important aspects of the Abraham Accords is the possibility, however vague, that the solution, the force behind change, in the current deadlock with the Palestinians, will come from the Gulf States. Two of Israel’s most loyal and vociferous defenders, Alan Dershowitz and Abe Foxman came out this week warning PM Netanyahu of the worrying direction his choices have taken. Those choices can change the very ethos of this democratic country; the price of choosing self over country. Abe Foxman, former Director of the Anti-Defamation League, said “I never thought I would reach the point where my support of Israel is conditional” and Dershowitz warned the PM about any attempt to override the Supreme Court. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this potential government is that we are distancing Diaspora Jews with possible changes that even Netanyahu cannot prevent. Avigdor Liberman best expressed all our fears when he spoke out in defence of the law of return, the very basis of having a Jewish State. I still have hope that the zealots will be controlled or excluded, but I wish I could be sure This week saw the anniversary of Pearl Harbour when WW2 changed direction, became a world war and so many died. I learned a little about it but in the UK, we learned almost exclusively about the War in Europe, after all that is where our troops were for 6 years and that’s where the Luftwaffe bombed the UK. I decided to understand, not from a romanticized movie interpretation but to read about it from valid websites. Here it is explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so4v_2zq35k Did you know that Israel is the 5th safest country in the world for tourists whereas the USA is number 20 due to the high homicide rate and the UK 22nd! In a study by “The Swiftest” which conducted an insurance comparison study, Singapore was number 1, followed by Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland and Israel. The worst was South Africa which comes as no surprise! After being considered among the “happiest” countries in the world we are doing really well! Nazareth is preparing for Christmas! Maybe it’s because Nazareth and her residents live in a Jewish country but apparently Christmas in that wonderful city has become a great deal more than decorating the streets in the advent period, it has become a local epicurean delight! We’ve long understood that ethnic food is of supreme importance in Israel, far more than politics and each faith has its own specialities. The Nazareth menu includes fatayer, kubeh filled with mutton, zucchini sheikh al-mahshi with white rice and yogurt, focaccia with smoked goose breast, humus with shiitake mushrooms, and stuffed grape leaves with tzatziki. Not exactly roast turkey but that makes it all the more exciting. As the festival approaches visits to the Holy Christian sites take on a new and important light. https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-723848 Our lovely upstairs neighbour Benny, who is the most practical, out of the box, thinker I have ever met, popped in to see our fabulous new cupboards and bookcases and while I was writing to you, he got talking with Zvi, as one does. Zvi told him about yesterday’s visit of our wonderful friends Merle and Frank Friedman and their designer son Kevin who instead of going out for lunch together chose to solve our dilemma (argument) of where to hang paintings (we have hundreds I swear) in a truly innovative manner. It looks phenomenal and Merle and I produced a full lunch at home, on the veranda, instead of going out. There was no way I was giving up on Kevin’s talent! Anyway, back to Benny and Zvi. Benny said that he had just hung some family paintings in their home and when he mentioned that his family lived in Bet Habad in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, next to the Hurva Synagogue, and described the building, Zvi became very excited because in that self same building Zvi’s father Kalman was training Haganah fighters in the basement! In fact, Benny’s grandfather was also involved in the Haganah and the two men undoubtedly knew each other. That’s Israel in those days, everybody knew everybody! Our cabinet maker, the man who built our new furniture, is called Amir and he always comes with his wife Alia, who helps him in design and building his work. They live in the Israeli Arab town of Kalansua, a town in the “Triangle” of Central Israel, and speak perfect Hebrew and almost all their clients are Jewish. When I asked him if he wanted a coffee his response was “Yes please, espresso” to which Zvi questioned “Espresso not Bots?” (bots is the muddy Turkish style coffee normally favoured by Arabs and many Eastern Jewish Israelis) to which Amir responded “No thanks, I’m an Arab Ashkenazi. Think about it, I drink espresso and my wife is the boss in the family”! A silly story but one I thought you’d like! We saw lots of people this week, apart from the Friedmans, and one day we met with our friend Sam and went to have breakfast at one of the ever-increasing local food trucks. The place was absolutely humming and all the random tables full! People sitting in the fresh air enjoying Israeli food like Sabich, Jachnun, Shnitzel, shakshuka so on and so forth. Set at the side of one of the old, winding, roads to Jerusalem near Sattaf, it is a favourite of both hikers and bikers out for a morning ride. The view up there in the Jerusalem Hills is phenomenal, trees cover every hill in all directions, all planted by you and me and the JNF/ Keren Kayemet. The air was crisp and fresh and the food not half bad although hardly gourmet! This evening we have visitors (surprise surprise) which includes three little ones, the children of the Benalal family and Eva and Eli Yaron, so the menu will include both grown up and toddler food. Usually I cook Moroccan style food for them but tonight I’m going Ashkenaz!! Chicken soup with kneidlach, Rachel’s fab beef and for the children special soft chicken balls with roast potatoes, stuffed peppers, salads and all the usual extras, sparing them gefilte fish, and Flory is making dessert. Both Zvi and I come from homes that welcome guests, indeed we love having people around and spontaneous meals are our favourite. That’s something my children grew up with too which leads me in to something I’ve been trying to avoid -next week is the 19th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, the day that changed my life forever, mine and that of all Daniel’s family. It is the anniversary, the Yahzeit, for my beautiful son Daniel. I cannot believe that it is already three years since the telephone call telling me that he had died in an accident in his favourite place in the world, Central Park in New York. It is all wrong, the wrong way around for a child to die before parents and one can never be the same person, never. I wrote then and my feelings are exactly the same http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/daniel/ I coped by doing what I always do, I (with a great deal of help from those who knew of Daniel) I created something positive that Daniel would have loved, a Studio for the Performing Arts in Shalva. https://give.shalva.org/daniel The pain is always present, the loss of an exceptional man constant but the children of Shalva know his name. The weather is glorious, chilly, but wonderful winter sunshine brings clarity to the view of Jerusalem in the distance, almost as if each white building has been outlined. The sunrise and sunset of this season are phenomenal, incredible reds, oranges and pinks. I love waking early just to see the sun rise over Jerusalem. Time for music although there is so much more to tell….. Koolulam and One Day, just listen to the words and think how sweet the world would be if we could change it one day at a time https://youtu.be/9gqw0WirTRQ Each morning, upon waking, an observant Jew says Modeh Ani, I am grateful. Grateful for returning my soul, for feeding and clothing me. It brings back memories of my Mummy coming to wake me to get ready for school. Perhaps we should be more grateful and less angry? https://youtu.be/9gqw0WirTRQ Just imagine if for one day every week the world took a rest from fighting and hatred and had a Gut Shabbes, a Good Sabbath, a day of rest, whether Friday, Saturday or Sunday! Here Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach sings Gut Shabbes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGroNQ8LEnc I wish you a good weekend, never forgetting to care for others, embracing our differences while holding on to our very special identity. We are, each and every one of us, special, different in so many ways, just look at our faces – each with a nose, two eyes, a mouth, two ears and yet even identical twins have something different, even if it is just a freckle. Those differences make the world go round. With much love Sheila

Democracy isn't easy

1st December, 2022 Shabbat Shalom dear friends. For the first time in 23 years I don’t know how to begin this week’s missive. In fact, I don’t know how to approach this week’s missive, because it is not in my nature to criticize Israel’s potential government, even when I disapprove of their policies, but this week, I am lost for words. Prime Minister Designate Benjamin Netanyahu is making choices that alienate Diaspora Jews, making it harder to identify, making choices that harm our allies of all faiths out there in the big wide world, making it harder and harder to defend our position and easier to give up on us. Of course we aren’t teaching children to hate and no politician will influence the Israeli textbooks! Of course our schoolbooks honour everyone who lives here and our children in the state schools hear every side of the argument, everybody’s narrative, but the perception both inside and outside Israel is that we are falling into a black hole of exclusion. I can assure you that we are not! If you still have doubts please read the independent reports on Israeli textbooks by Impact-se https://www.impact-se.org/reports-2/israel/ I listen to the stories that Zvi has to tell of his days in Israeli politics, days when Likud had the full range of conservative political thought and Avoda (Labour) was mainly concerned with social issues and building the country, but everyone was also a patriot and felt included in the process. In those days it was the good of the whole rather than the zealous determination to force everyone to conform to their ideals. It’s all too easy to blame the election process, even easier to blame the participants, the party leaders who either led a weak campaign or no campaign, but the unthinkable happened and we are being led down a path of extremists led by a weak Prime Minister who is willing to sell his soul to stay in power. I am deeply disappointed and very disturbed because I love this country, and I believe that the vast majority had no idea of what lay ahead of them. How is it possible that the man who fought so hard to bring Natan Scharansky, the world famous dissident, to Israel now wants change the law of return, the very basis of our existence? Even more incredibly, Avi Moaz is a party of one! Yes, his party has precisely one seat in the Knesset! This article in the Times of Israel explains the situation far better than I. https://www.timesofisrael.com/he-campaigned-for-soviet-immigration-now-avi-maoz-is-poised-to-fight-against-it/ I love this country, I’m incredibly proud of our achievements in every sphere; our ability to withstand horrific terror attacks from our neighbours whose sole aim is to erase us from the map, all of us whatever our faith and of course, our ability to reach out to help any and every country in trouble from both natural and man-made disasters. I cannot imagine living anywhere else, this is my home, but I fear for the next generation who may not feel that same pull, that same allegiance. Like it or not, this is our only home, our only country which has been taken from us too many times and although we may dislike our politicians, we cannot abandon our love for Israel because it doesn’t suit us at the moment. Just as in every other country, we simply have to work to repair what may be broken. I was searching for a ray of light, something to lift my mood and found it in Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. PM Sunak has pledged to put BDS outside the law and to strengthen Britain’s ties with Israel. The law banning BDS was in the Tory manifesto in 2019 and he intends to ensure it makes the statute book. https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/article-723736 On a very different subject, but in a strange way, a subject that holds a great deal of hope and gratitude for change. This is International Recognition of Violence Against Women Week, which may sound depressing but it isn’t really. Finally recognition of the situation, the new generation of women understands that violence takes many forms, not just verbal and physical violence but also financial violence/submission, something that my generation never ever understood. Withholding financial support, control by withholding the woman’s access to money, even if it is her own, hiding financials, is just as painful as a beating but without the physical scars. It demands submission. This generation will not be a Dorcas, they will have the strength to fight back. Eric Idle, the fabulous, funny and highly irreverent Eric Idle of Monty Python fame, when told he has to clean up his act, has asked to be cancelled rather than change his humour. Of course it is coarse, irreverent, anti-society, rude, everything that made Monty Python and all the incredible gang so funny! “The Life of Brian” was funny because it laughed at all religions equally and there are few in this world who have never sung “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. In his statement he said “It sounds a bit like the French Revolution committees, who said, 'off with his head'. I think a lot of bullying goes on in the name of decency.” This week I’ve been searching out Zvi’s family, sadly none of who survived the Shoah, on a few internet sites, particularly one call Kav haDorot and Geni. We discovered that his eminent grandfather, Rabbi Zvi Mordechai Rybak, had a nickname, Mordka! I cannot think of anything that would make my lovely husband happier than to discover that after all, he has a first cousin The weekend began with a visit to the Jerusalem neighborhood of Bet Hakerem for a lecture on the 100th anniversary of the “shchuna” neighborhood. In fact, Bet Hakerem has many memories for both of us. I first discovered Bet Hakerem on my first visit to Israel on a Youth and Hechalutz Tour in 1963, when we slept in the David Yellin Teachers Training college. For Zvi it was next to his childhood neighborhood and the school where his mother was headmistress. His children grew up on the main street, and later on we lived there so we were fascinated to hear the stories of the founders whose descendents spoke. From there we went to our friends Ronit and Yossi for Shabbat lunch and at home I had the sheer joy of watching the baby blessing of my gorgeous great niece and nephew, Eilah and Ezra by Zoom, in far off Wales. Mazal Tov to my brother Ronnie and sister in law Sandie and all the family. I’m trying to get back into normal life again, although I still can’t drive and have a huge neck brace/construction which tends to frighten all comers!! So on Tuesday evening we went to a very small theatre in the Bell Park (created to celebrate 200 years of USA) where two friends, Eli Yaron and Itzik Mussachi were performing. The troupe performed excerpts from Bustan Sefaradi, written by President Yitzchak Navon, The Policeman Azulai and many others. It was great and they found me a comfortable seat! Yesterday Rachel, Talia and Ayala came to watch “Pride and Prejudice” with me while Zvi watched the World Cup in the other room. Sadly we couldn’t find the original 1995 version with Colin Firth but the Keira Knightly one did very nicely. Talia needs it for her baccalaureate and we thoroughly enjoyed it! I was actually very pleased to spend last night with my daughter since it is the 59th anniversary of my beautiful mother’s passing away and those three girls are very good at hugging. Zvi and I went to the cemetery for the memorial to our wonderful friend Shmuel, Sammy, Benalal who was killed in the horrific bombing in Mali 5 years ago. Shmuel was a larger than life man, intensely intelligent, in Mali at the request of the World Bank to advise them on how to change their education systems. He’s always in our hearts. Zvi’s son Leor, Shiri and the four girls are coming for Shabbat Dinner and we will try to steer the conversation away from politics. The menu is slightly, actually very different from usual and will suit the somewhat chilly weather. Split pea soup, then herbed Barbunia parcels and salmon in lemon sauce, quiche, various salads, some sort of potatoes and the regular “pasta without anything” for the fussy member of the family! I decided to go berserk on the desserts. Chocolate mousse, crepes with maple syrup and a Victoria sponge cake…… I think they will be happy. I love it when the apartment is full and Leor always clears everything up, rinsing and loading the dishwasher exactly the way I like – soldiers without wasting space! He will make sure I won’t have to work. Netflix, I think most of us became addicted to Netflix during the Covid period of isolation, it probably saved our sanity! However, Netflix are about to screen a Jordanian movie that is unacceptable. It is a movie that in some ways compares a young Palestinian girl to Anne Frank and the insinuation therein. This movie will, undoubtedly exacerbate an already problematic world. Please sign this letter to Netflix management demanding to remove the film. It's easy and takes just 30 seconds. Put you name in the box >>> Click START WRITING >>> Click SEND LETTER >>> Done ! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/netflix-removfe-the-antisemitic-blood-libel-film-farha?source=direct_link& My grateful thanks to Martin Lindenfeld for drawing it to my notice My thanks to Judith Nusbaum for this song. As the weather gets colder, the trees lose their leaves and the skies darken, Shalva sing on the beach. I love it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ9Pg-G7o40 I am very proud to give you this particular song as a tribute to the best of British humour, in the phenomenal Royal Albert Hall, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” with Eric Idle. I dare you to refrain from singing along! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrdEMERq8MA With everything that is happening around us, I had to finish with one special song, Ayn li Eretz Aheret – I have no other country. The lyrics written by the late Ehud Manor ring out our love of Israel and our need to support change, but whatever, to love this incredible little country https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0bPgPs40zc&t=42s I have no other country, even if my land is aflame Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul - With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home. I will not stay silent because my country changed her face I will not give up reminding her and sing in her ears until she will open her eyes I have no other country even if my land is aflame Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul - With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home. I won't be silent because my country has changed her face. I will not give up reminding her and sing in her ears until she will open her eyes I have no other country until she will renew her glorious days Until she will open her eyes I have no other country even if my land is aflame Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul - With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home. I wish you a Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem. With love Sheila

Pain politics and lovely visitors

25th November, 2022 Shabbat Shalom! I hope that all my American friends had many things to be Thankful for yesterday. Even if in many ways Thanksgiving has lost its original meaning, the idea of giving thanks for what we have when on the other 364 days of the year we tend to complain, is, or can be, life changing. Sadly yesterday, and the day before were not good days in Israel although many of us gave thanks that we, and our families, are alive. I didn’t need to be told that there had been terror attacks, the number of ambulance and police sirens rushing past on Road Number One told me that something ghastly had happened. It may not have reached your news media, but two explosive devices were placed, very strategically, at bus stops on the outskirts of Jerusalem. One at the major intersection of Ramot where miraculously no-one was killed although it is usually packed at 07:15, a bus had just passed through and picked up all the waiting passengers so the bus stop was empty; at the other bus stop and hitchhiking site, right near the Calatrava Bridge on road number one, a 16 year old Canadian Yeshiva student lost his life and another 18 people were hurt. Both bombs were well thought out, caused total chaos since both main entrances to Jerusalem were closed, cars sitting, unable to proceed for hours, this was not a moment of anger but the work of professional criminals taught to hate over the last 74 years and before. The anger, the sheer unadulterated hatred has been carefully nurtured by terror organisations, terror organisations accepted and paid for by the governments of your countries. Two days ago, a 19 year old Druze decided to repair his car in Jenin, believing that since his native tongue is Arabic he would be safe. He had an accident, was taken to hospital and then it happened – members oof the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, took him, pulling all the infusions out of his arm, killed him and kidnapped his body. His family told the Israeli government that they did not want his body to be exchanged for anyone, they refused to risk the lives of soldiers of the IDF. Our diplomats used every diplomatic tool at their disposal but since the family is not an official body, they succeeded in contacting the powers that be in Syria and Lebanon and incredibly, the Tanzim, the “army” of the PA, sat with the kidnappers for 6 hours to convince them to return the body. I am sure that the Druze community were able to use threats that an official body cannot which facilitated the return of Tiran Ferro’s body for burial. As you probably know, we don’t have a government yet, possibly Benjamin Netanyahu will not succeed in forming a government, because of the partners he chose to enter the fray. When entering a battle one takes only trustworthy, loyal allies otherwise they undermine every move and can lead to defeat. That is the story of Benjamin Netanyahu and the recent elections. Ben Gvir, having gained seats has suddenly calmed down, his pre-election histrionics having served their purpose but Smotrich is an idealist, adamant and unmoving in his demands, demands that cannot be met by any leader of a democratic country. The coalition negotiations are at an impasse because Smotrich wants Ministerial positions that would change the status quo of Israel’s Jewish religious life and the status of non-Jews in Israel – in other words to change the face of Israel’s multi-faceted society. As power hungry as Netanyahu may be he is, after all, a pragmatic leader who cannot counter extremism if he wants to be taken seriously in the wider world. The damage done by the election success of both Smotrich and Ben Gvir has damaged our relationship with even our most loyal allies. The perception is that we have become a less tolerant society, less democratic which is not true on one level, because democratic elections reflect the leanings of the people, but true on another – Israelis always lean to the right when there are attacks, and immediately prior to the elections there were several lone attacks. Outside Israel, in countries where stabbings and shootings are commonplace, the Israeli electorate’s swing to the right has brought condemnation, a lack of understanding that really disturbs me. I have never been on the right of the political map, was deeply concerned by the election results, but would never consider withdrawing my loyalties, I would never be that fickle. I am however, horrified by the level of anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda found today in the USA, particularly in the universities. Today it is predominantly verbal but already changing to physical. A dear friend who had a very high position in New York’s academic world, came home one day and said “That’s it, I cannot stay here for one more day. We are packing up and going to Israel” They did, their life did a 180 and they are happier than ever! The secret is not only to see the writing on the wall but to understand what is written. I am not suggesting that the entire diaspora move to Israel, that would be ridiculous, but I never want to see the situation where life becomes so untenable that everyone wants to go elsewhere. Talking of going elsewhere, our dear friend Valeri Silver thought he would enjoy his retirement but today he is busier than ever! Valeri spends a great deal of his time at Ben Gurion Airport, meeting Ukrainians and Russians who want to either make Aliya (become citizens according to the law of return) or request asylum. The amount of paperwork to check eligibility for either situation is lengthy, much less than other countries but those who fled the war in Ukraine or the ever-increasing anti-Semitism in Russia, need a friendly face to overcome language and bureaucracy. Valeri not only helps with the formalities but also explaining their rights to social security help and language lessons. The process takes place at the airport and then they are taken to hotels and hostels to begin the process of absorption into Israeli society, given all the help they need to continue. As you may remember, Valeri and his lovely wife Ira (Irene) came to Israel on Aliya just one year after I did. Zvi met them when on a Jewish Agency/ Keren Hayesod visit to Moscow in 1990 and when they arrived, they found a friend in Zvi, I loved them immediately and we became family. Their children, Tomer and Shelley, are loved as much as our own. After many years of assisting Aliya from communities in Russia, Valeri is now the first contact for those who come home. Another community that made Aliya is the Ethiopian community, and they brought a beautiful festival with them, the festival of Sigd which takes place 50 days after Yom Kippur on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan. Sigd has become a national festival and tells the story of the longing for Jerusalem, for Israel, while in exile in Ethiopia. https://m.knesset.gov.il/en/about/lexicon/pages/sigd.aspx Israeli research, especially medical research is known the world over. The most incredible of all recent results is a new non-invasive procedure for the removal of cancerous tumours, which has proven successful in animals. A new non-invasive technology using low-frequency nanobubble-enhanced ultrasound mechanotherapy has been developed in Tel Aviv University. Since I cannot begin to understand the complexities here is the link https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-723059 Where we live is steeped in history. Motza, established in 1854, and Motza Illit have many wonderful historic sites and Zvi brought a group of VIPs to see it for real! The stump of a tree planted by Theodore Herzl and trees planted by all subsequent Israeli presidents; a beautiful building the architecture of which is based on the White House and was built in the 1920’s as a respite for members of the Histadrut union; the Seven Sisters Road so called because it has 7 hairpin bends, much to the surprise of visiting friends! We really want the Avenue and the area leading to the pillboxes to be beautiful, to give the area a well-earned renewal. I am thrilled to say that our home is once again filled with visitors! Covid changed everything but this week was proof that life is returning to normal. Zvi had a wonderful week of speaking Spanish I admit to my chagrin because I am not good at languages) not only with his cousin Jack and Jack’s lovely lady friend Lina, but with David Efron, the Honorary Consul for Israel in Puerto Rico and a dear friend who popped in for a few hours and Zvi met with Isaak Guttin - all of whom wanted to visit to the Western Wall and the Old City with their special guide, Mr. Zvi Raviv. My special guest this week was Joy Wolfe, who always has wonderful stories to tell about the British Jewish Community. I got to meet with Marcus Sheff CEO of Impact-se, who gave me a quick update of the incredible advances we have made in changing the schoolbooks of those who previously were taught to hate us. We told him that one friend, deeply worried by the changes in US attitude to Israel, asked if we would consider studying the schoolbooks in US schools, but since the US is a democratic country in which each state, indeed each school area, decides upon the content of its schoolbooks research is impossible. In dictatorships there is no such freedom so schoolbooks are decided from the top. I was very disturbed by the suggestion that there is a need for change though. Let’s face it, tolerance and understanding may be lacking in a child’s home but must be introduced in schools at a very young age. The rain finally arrived last night and according to the weather forecasters, winter is actually here! I admit that I love the rain and it needs to be really cold for me to forego my breakfast on the veranda. In fact, two days ago Joy, David, Zvi and I sat outside on the veranda for our lunch! I love entertaining on the veranda, not only because the view is breathtaking, but that way there is no mess indoors! I get very excited when guests wax lyrical about the veranda, its size and the amazing array of flowers and fruits. Actually most are thrilled that the cuttings I steal wherever I go are taking root very nicely and beginning to spriggle! Of course, any visitors to our home also get a tour of the complex and the history thereof. My history lesson is of the emotional ties and the fact that Theodore Herzl, who was a very sick young man, came to visit Motza because it was said to have the purest air in the whole of Israel, whereas Zvi remembers exact dates and all the relevant personalities, giving everything a factual aspect. I have to ask you a question. When you read your newspaper or listen to the reported news, do you accept what is written or do you understand that every word is one person’s opinion rather than factual? As the fight for advertisers becomes the sole purpose of most media outlets we get less and less truth. For instance, one Israeli news outlet reported that a Qatari football fan shunned an Israeli reporter, yet that self same reporter filmed a wonderful piece of meeting Iranian fans and when he said he was from Israel they hugged him! It is all about perspective. Perhaps journalists should read this weeks Torah reading about lying! So, the evenings are closing in, Shabbat arrives really early and preparations are more hurried than in the lazy, hazy days of summer! The aromas remain though as each house prepares traditional food. Whether it is chicken soup with kneidlach or Kubeh soup; cholent or hamin; gefilte fish or “chraimeh” which should not be confused with “chrane” or horseradish and beetroot hot sauce which goes with gefilte fish, “chraimeh” means forbidden in Moroccan Arabic and is fish, either pieces or balls, in a spicy red sauce – yummy. Sorry I went off track again….. anyway, whatever your epicurean traditions, enjoy! That’s all Folks! And so to music The first song is called “Someone is here with me” from Kuloolam. Never feel alone, always be strong and be the best person you can be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_jUEaR86Lw On November the 29th, 1947 the Unnited Nations voted in favour of recognition of the State of Israel. https://m.knesset.gov.il/en/about/pages/nov29.aspx Just in case you forget the history and the pride of being part of Israel, before Abba Kovner understood the diaspora truth of “So Sorry We Won” we all watched “Exodus” Ari ben Canaan and the story told https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1sSfNHghZc&t=5s Finally, you and I can exercise the power of one. Each and every one of us can change the world if we are just willing to stand up for what is right, what is fair. Can you imagine if we all held hands and chose to be vehicles for change? What if we actually managed to bring tolerance and freedom to this crazy, angry world. Arik Einstein sang about it many years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSuL7WDVRY&t=2s Wishing everyone a beautiful Shabbat, irrespective of where you are, in which direction you pray and what words you use to reach out. With much love from Jerusalem Sheila

Journalists, politicians and a few home truths

18th November 2022 Hello! Shabbat Shalom! Hope you are well. Can I begin with a question? Why on earth does the USA feel that they have to investigate the death of one specific journalist when at least 45 journalists have died in war or revolution situations this year? Could it be because it involves the Israel Palestinian situation? Would anyone know the name Shireen Abu Akleh if she had died anywhere else in the world? It isn’t because she worked for Al Jazeera because nobody knows the name Tairq Ayyoub who was killed by American fire on Al Jazeera’s Baghdad office; Taras Protsyuk, 35, killed when an American tank fired a shell directly at the Reuters suite; Jose Couso, 37, a cameraman for the Spanish television channel Tele 5; British ITV News correspondent Terry Lloyd, who was killed by American troops on the southern Iraq warfront, all in Iraq. Of course, I am only aware of those killed by US fire, but please, understand that people die in wars and war correspondents are reporting from the most dangerous sites. War is ugly and our Defence Minister, Benny Gantz is rightly offended by the US insinuation that the investigation into the death of Shireen Abu Akleh was anything but thorough. I used to think that holding Israel, the IDF, to a higher standard than any other army in the world was a compliment, which it is, until those standards are used as a weapon. A while ago, I wrote about the industrial estate in Ariel, a town oft described as a settlement. The industrial estate, right on the border with the PA, employs equal numbers of Palestinians and new immigrants giving equal rights to both. Indeed in Yisrael Twitto’s factory he pays their medical insurance (there is none in the PA) and salaries equal to the Israeli standard. He also sends bright young workers to University at his expense. Why am I telling you about Ariel? Because this week a terrorist stabbed two security guards at the industrial estate, ran and stabbed two more people at the petrol station nearby, stole a car and rammed vehicles as he drove against the traffic on the main road. He killed 3 innocents and severely injured 3 more before being shot. I am certain that the 19 year old terrorist had no idea that he had chosen an oasis of cooperation to kill, or did he? It’s a given that we mere mortals cannot understand the machinations of politicians. They have a totally different mindset, sometimes I think that their thinking is totally vertical, whereas most of us have an element of lateral thinking. Imagine, you fight hard to achieve something then when the power is in someone else’s hand you fight the very thing that you put forward but the first thing you do when back in power is to put that thing high on your agenda. Did you understand what I just wrote? because I don’t understand the mindset or the action! Let me explain. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led the discussions to repeal the necessity for Israelis to have visas to enter the USA, to have a visa waiver, and almost succeeded, but when the Bennet/Lapid government came to sign he decided he was against it! Now that he is back in power, he will push it through to ensure his signature is on the agreement. So confusing! Life is not easy for the newly re-elected Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is conceivably the brightest and most experienced politician on the Israeli political scene but this time his partners in the potential coalition are far further right than his centre right Likud and their idealistic extremism does not stop them from making impossible demands. As I said last week, I doubt very much that Mr Netanyahu will succumb to the carefully scripted histrionics of Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Ben Gvir, most certainly not my cup of tea, is much more realistic whereas Smotrich honestly scares me. The fat lady has not sung a note yet, the discussions with all parties in the coalition will continue but the PM does not have an easy time ahead. The realization that Mrs Ben Gvir carries a hand weapon has created a storm of criticism, particularly as it was very apparent in a photograph taken with Sarah Netanyahu. Diplomatic relations are warming up with Turkey and conversations are taking place between the leaders. It has been a long journey for the Turkish leader who has taken his country on a myriad of attempted alliances after Turkey was refused entry into the EU. Once lose ties with Israel became strained to breaking point when the “Mavi Marmara” incident hit the headlines but gradually Erdogan has come to understand that his country’s alliance with Israel was the most logical. If I tell you that Israelis are off to Qatar in their thousands, would you believe me? Well they are. The World Cup will take place this week and thousands of Israelis have flown to Doha for the colossal event. Obviously, there are fears of diplomatic incidents but since Qatar is a virtual dictatorship in which those who break the law are severely punished, I believe that the powers that be will ensure the safety of Israelis, indeed of all their football fans, after all this is the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East! Many of you have never heard the name Yosef Haddad, probably thought he was just another Israeli, but in fact he is not “just” anything! Yosef Haddad is a young Arab Moslem Israeli who got fed up with the false reporting of life for Arab Israelis and after his studies set out to change the world! In this podcast entitled “You don’t have to be Jewish to be successful in Israel” he speaks out for those Arab Israelis who have succeeded in every sphere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF6bxLnEuhU&t=2s Which reminded me of a cartoon put on Facebook by the wonderful Prof. Mohammed Dajani Douadi showing four men, two on each side of a tree. On the one side the Palestinians where the man on the ground is holding the man climbing up, preventing him from achieving his goal whereas the other side has two Israelis and the man on the ground is pushing the climber higher to achieve his goal. I was fascinated. Incidentally Prof. Dajani is from a very old and proud Jerusalem Palestinian family and spends his life working toward peace. He is on our International Advisory Board at www.impact-se.org and is a very special person. Talking of Impact-se, last week I forgot to tell you that I had a wonderful visit from Nancy Epstein, a Board member of Impact. It was so wonderful to actually meet her, enjoy her company rather than just seeing a friendly face on a Zoom meeting! As you well know I love to cook, have always felt that the secret to good food lies in the amount of love one puts into the process, but this week we enjoyed going to restaurants since I’m not quite back to standing and cooking. We actually went to the Pop Up Café in Kiriat Anavim on two consecutive days, once with some girlfriends and then with Zvi’s cousin Jack Shapiro and his lovely partner Lina. Waxing lyrical about the atmosphere of the coffee shop is obvious, as I said it’s like sitting in a bower, surrounded by beautiful plants and trees, and both the food and the service are excellent. Jack hasn’t been to our new home so it was really exciting. The next day, after a home cooked shakshuka, Zvi took them on a jam packed day in Jerusalem, starting at the Kotel (Western Wall) with a quick drive around the Old City, then to the Biblelands Museum https://www.blmj.org/en/about/ and on to the Herzl Museum https://www.itraveljerusalem.com/ent/herzl-museum/ , which is more of a fantastic walk through Herzl’s life than a museum visit, where they were met by Zvi’s close friend and Herzl expert Dr. Motti Friedman who created the museum, finally they went to the new memorial to fallen soldiers of the IDF next to the entrance to the Mount Herzl cemetery https://english.mod.gov.il/About/Legacy/Pages/National_Remembrance_Hall.aspx . Exhausted but happy Jack and Lina came home for a short rest then we set off for another restaurant, Naya in the nearby moshav of Beit Nekufa where we met Nattie and Yolli Zonszein for a Mexican reunion since the three men were all at high school together in Mexico City, the “Yiddische Shule” or Yiddish School where Zvi’s parents were teachers on loan from Israel. Indeed an evening of memories rekindled The following day, after I served everyone breakfast, we went for a walk around our complex, with a fantastic history lesson from Zvi. We walked the Presidents Avenue next to our apartment building, starting with the trees planted by Theodore Herzl and Woolfson and all subsequent Presidents soon to be joined by Isaac Herzog, perhaps next to his late father’s tree. We then had a tour of the exquisite building around which our complex was built. Originally built as a sanatorium for the Union (Histadrut) workers of the original health fund (kupat holim) its architecture is reminiscent of the White House, a truly elegant structure. Jack and Lina then left for Ra’anana and Zvi and I rested! This morning we were invited to our young neighbours for coffee which was delightful then Zvi headed off for his Friday Parliament and I sat down to write to you!! This evening we will go to Amiad and Noga for Shabbat dinner so that I do not need to prepare food. On Sunday Zvi will be showing an interested group the Avenue of the Presidents taking them down the many steps to the lower level and the pill boxes which defended the road to Jerusalem during the War of Independence in 1947-48, indeed the war which continues until today. It never fails to amaze me how every inch of Israel holds either Biblical or historic importance. If music be the food of love play on The late Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, Rabbi Jonathan Saks introduced this rendition of Oseh Shalom, giving extra meaning to the prayer, the words of which are “He who makes peace in his high places He shall make peace upon us And upon all of Israel And say Amen” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVM6x4BechI Bob Dylan wrote “Neighborhood Bully” as a commentary of the way that the world treats Israel and the Jews. A must listen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr3gyxCm6pU On a much happier note, in the old days whenever an El Al flight began to land in Ben Gurion Airport the tannoy on the plane would play Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, a traditional song of greeting, but today it is just ordinary muzak, which is rather a shame; however, the Jerusalem Music Academy decided to right the wrong and greeted a delighted group of young people with the old song in a brand new fashion. I know I have played it before but hey, it’s wonderful!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ_nbinWkvE By the way, I am very happy to tell you that my surgeon is very pleased with me! That’s all folks! As Shabbat nears, the time for contemplation and family, I wish you a good weekend. With love from Jerusalem Sheila

The Honey and the Sting

11th day of the 11th month 2022 Shabbat Shalom dear friends “The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.” ― Kahlil Gibran On the anniversary of the loss of lives in World Wars and two days after the anniversary of Kristallnacht it is perhaps hard to see the rose, especially with the world in its current ghastly state, but roses abound as the bright red poppies which bloomed in the mud and blood of Flanders Fields. Today, at the Cenotaph War Memorial in London, at precisely the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, silence will be observed as Royalty, Ministers, Old Soldiers all stand to attention. Each and every one of them with a red poppy on lapel, and wreaths of red poppies will be laid to honour those who fought that we may be free. The question on everyone’s lips and the concern in everyone’s mind is whether Benjamin Netanyahu will succeed in creating a viable coalition while clipping the wings of the birds of prey who want to join him. The name Itamar Ben Gvir is on the lips of the world and the pages of virtually every newspaper in the West and rightly so. As far as the vast majority of Israelis are concerned, nay distressed at his success, his antipathy to what we stand for sometimes masks the similarity between his rants and those of the very people he claims to hate! However, since we are talking about roses not thorns, I must place my trust in the experience and ability of Netanyahu to avoid an international outcry. I await the result of the coalition list. I understand that the concerns of the Diaspora Community are twofold and both aspects are valid. In terms of “How do we look to the outside world” I don’t really have an answer, but Israel is most certainly held to a higher standard than any other country, including yours! Really. When you look at the number of countries which have troops far from home on lands that have been “occupied” and realise that those self-same countries spend a great deal of time, and air-time berating Israeli occupation it gives a degree of balance to our situation. The other aspect which may well affect the relationship between Diaspora Jews and Israel is the threatened changes in the level of religious control. In truth, I cannot see any of these changes taking place but the disconnect may well take place anyway. The rose and thorn? The Jewish Agency has decided to ensure security of the egalitarian section of the Western Wall but I am sad that it is necessary. So? what are the results of the USA by-elections? I understand that it is all much closer than expected but since I do not really understand the electoral system in the USA I would love someone to explain it to me! So far it is 48 seats to the Republicans, 46 to the Democrats and 2 to small parties which looks as if there is no clear majority. Does that matter? Does it affect future resolutions? The rose here is that unlike the thorns of the last elections with riots and storming of Congress, things seem to be much more civilised but we still have two years until the Presidential elections. Is the Kristallnacht history still relevant today? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristallnacht Can our children and grandchildren understand what began on that fateful day when anti-Semitism became overt? How did dehumanisation culminate in the beginning of the end for European Jewry? If we don’t tell the story and compare it to what is happening today then we are preparing to repeat history. I see the horrors that young Jews suffer at University, particularly in the USA but nearly everywhere in the West, and I fear for their future. When I lived in the UK, actually in London, I was very active in an organisation called AJ6, the Association of Jewish 6th Formers (the last two years of high school) preparing them for University and the tacit anti-Semitism that they would meet there. The emphasis on tacit, whereas today it is overt and even acceptable and I fear that today’s youngsters are not prepared, gather all their information from TikTok and Instagram, have lost their pride in being Jewish and in Israel because we, their parents and grandparents did not ensure that they were educated in who they are and where they come from. How do we know that the Palestinians are not garnering enough media space? They immediately put forward a resolution to the International Court of Justice in the Hague! Yet again the old trope of Israeli occupation tantamount to annexation of lands beyond the 1967 borders is going before the Court this week after consideration by the United Nations. Of course, the result is a forgone conclusion and while it doesn’t actually affect Israel it is an uncomfortable diplomatic situation for Jerusalem. In fact the PA are planning a diplomatic blitz (in the words of Khaled Abu Toameh) based on Smotrich/Ben Gvir to raise their profile. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-722036 So what about a few roses? Qatar has direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport for the Mondial, the World Cup! Lonah Chemtai Salpeter became the second fastest woman in the New York Marathon just 7 seconds behind the winner! Lonah came to Israel from Kenya, fell in love and married her trainer and has proudly draped herself in the Israeli flag with each and every win. Brava! Promises and handshaking were the order of the day at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm el Sheikh Egypt. All the participating countries pledged to improve their ecological record but I’m not sure anyone is watching over their progress. President Isaac Herzog headed the Israeli delegation at the conference. Few people are aware of the 8th Abu Dhabi Assembly for Peace a true rose among the thorns. It is the meeting of the minds of good people from the full gamut of religion and religious observance with the intention of understanding each other while retaining our individual identity. I am very proud of the fact that Rabbi David Rosen represents the very best of Judaism in this and many such gatherings. Thank you David. This was a good week for Zvi and I. Our wonderful friend Kim aka Dr Kimball Taylor, came on his 61st visit to Israel in order to attend the Jewish Agency for Israel Meetings in Tel Aviv. Kim sits on the Aliya Committee bringing a totally fresh aspect to their work and then he came to stay with us. We are being very careful not to overload me with visitors but Kim is a member of the family and basically knows where everything is in the fridge and clears up after himself. It’s also good to hear that my surgery was amazing from the lips of the good doctor!! It has been a week-ful of birthdays! Ori, Shiri, Rachel and Ayala on consecutive days! I decided to take Rachel out for lunch a day early, and Yosef came along for the ride. We went to my new favourite coffee shop on the edge of Kibbutz Kiriat Anavim. Kiriat Anavim or town of grapes, was built on land bought from the village of Abu Ghosh in 1912. The area has blossomed, as has the relationship with Abu Ghosh and the coffee shop not only has delicious food, delightful young waiters but is set in a veritable bower of plants. My lovely friend Betty called in for a surprise visit and a delightful catch-up and then Monica and Evan Minkoff popped in after a day with Zvi and on their way to the airport and home to Denver Colorado. I am really doing very well and have been given an excellent regime of physio from my local clinic. So far it has been really helpful although when Zvi and Kim decided to climb up to the Castel right next to our home, I admit that I backed out! https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/castel-national-site/ Doing one and a half kilometres on our complex is quite enough for me! We had rain! As usual Tel Aviv was flooded but there is more than one advantage to living in the Jerusalem Hills! We don’t flood and our plants, trees and fields get life giving water. Suddenly yellow patches along the road turn lush and trees lose their summer dust, their true colours shining through. The white Jerusalem stone buildings glisten in the sun and the world seems to have a cleaner, fresher look. Our veranda looks spectacular! The tiny lime tree has over twenty limes and more coming daily as the sunbirds do an excellent job of fertilizing the fragrant blossom; the kumquat tree has a lot of fruit although rather small this year but the lemons are fast changing colour from green to a vibrant yellow. Small fruits but filled with juice. The various coloured hibiscus are thriving in the gentle sunshine and I discovered that cuttings from my new bright red hibiscus, a get-well gift from my siblings, can be propagated easily! In other words, the work put in earlier in the year is paying off in a glorious display! This week’s Torah reading, Vayera from Genesis, is deeply relevant to today as the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael reaches a head. Who would have thought that a family dispute thousands of years ago could culminate in today’s wars. Heavenly guests tell Sarah she is pregnant and the Almighty destroys Sodom and Gemorrah, then Sarah gives birth and insists that her handmaiden Hagar with Abraham’s son Ishmael, be sent from their home. Talk about complications! And now to music. I can’t think what fits all the roses and thorns of a week in the Middle East but I promise to try. This song about Jerusalem sung by Gad Elbaz really touched my heart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZoXAPj_zZ8 I know that your favourite is Koolulam and here they take the rose and thorns and bring a beautiful song in a new recording from September this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9R57G02nW8&t=1s Al Kol Eleh – Above all this – is about the honey and the sting, the rose and the thorns. I love this rendition by Yonina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWp4KgvyPYw&t=5s The lyrics are basically the recipe for life. Every bee that brings the honey, Needs a sting to be complete; And we all must learn to taste the bitter with the sweet. http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-alkoleleh-bikel.htm To everyone, to my family beside me and in far flung places, to my friends both near and far, we wish you a good weekend, a Shabbat Shalom, and more roses than thorns, more honey than stings. Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem. Remember that Israel is both your mother and your child, you care for her as a child loves her mother and she cares for you in the same way that a mother loves her child. We don’t always agree but the love that binds us overrides any disagreements. With love Sheila

Elections and so much more

4th November 2022 Shabbat Shalom! I hope this missive finds you well. “The fault lies not with the mob, who demands nonsense, but with those who do not know how to produce anything else.” Cervantes in Don Quixote So the Israeli elections took place and the results must be accepted, whether we like it or not. The true test of democracy is when your party does not win. Like it or not we must accept the democratic process. I happen to believe that the media is partly to blame for the rise of the extreme right because every single newscast for the last few months reported on the aggressive histrionics of Itamar Ben Gvir, supporter of Meir Kahane, with the inverse effect of making him a hero not the anti-hero they intended. As the individual terror attacks increased, his melodramatic gun waving seemed almost sane and two men, neither of whom served in the IDF hold the balance. I hope and pray that this isn’t a green light to the “Hilltop Youth” to run amok. Although I did not vote for Benjamin Netanyahu, I accept his win. He is a very clever man and a brilliant speaker, but his campaign, claiming that both Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz are “left wing” has put him in bed with two parties that will hold him hostage over policies that are against the principles of the Likud Party and the good of the entire country. The electoral manipulations and name-calling created an atmosphere as if the undoubted diplomatic and political successes of the last 18 months dissipated into thin air. Perhaps, hope against hope, he will recognise the danger and ally with the centrist parties, only the next few weeks will tell as the President calls upon him to form a coalition. When it comes down to it, everything depends upon demographics and whether the centrists came out to vote or went on vacation. 27 years ago, on the 4th of November 1995, a peace rally was held in Tel Aviv attended by many politicians including Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Yitzchak Rabin often complained that the level of security was too constrictive, indeed when he invited us, together with Ehud Olmert, to join him at an event in the State Department in Washington, just 9 days previously, we were amazed at the lack of security as we simply walked in to an event with President Clinton. We had no idea that would be the last time we saw him. I’m sorry, I digress, the purpose of mentioning security was that prior to the above-mentioned peace rally, the level of incitement by the extreme right can only be described as murderous incitement to hatred and as a result a Prime Minister, a former Chief of Staff was assassinated and Israel still hasn’t recovered. Rabin’s understanding of the birth of the Jewish nation, his combination of Chief of Staff, Defence Minister and Prime Minister who was born in Mandate Palestine can no longer be repeated. Please listen to his interview on American television to fully appreciate the great man that he was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kCfqCHbFas Possibly the most ironic fact that came out of the final recount of votes is that Avigdor Liberman gained a seat and Torah Judaism lost a seat. A sad fact is that the left wing Meretz party is out of the Knesset caused by internal turmoil, a poor campaign and the understanding that their policies are no longer attractive. One of the first responses from over the border came from Jibril Rajoub, Secretary General of Fatah’s Central Committee and Minister for Football (really) in the PA, who came out describing the potential government as militant and racist. General Rajoub is no longer an active terrorist but was, and despite his continuing refusal to accept the State of Israel has all his money (lots of it) in a Bank Leumi account under the name of Gil Regev!!! Last week, one of the only Christian villages still remaining in the Palestinian Authority, the village of Beit Sachur between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, held a Christmas Fair. At last something both fun and entirely Christian in a village where finding work is almost impossible and most come into Israel to work. Two young thugs came into the village and tried to disrupt the event and the Priest threw them out. Sorry two young Moslem thugs came into the village and tried to disrupt events and the Priest bravely threw them out. They came back with a couple of dozen cohorts and stoned and beat up the Christians at the fair. It didn’t even rate a mention in the media! However, Melanie Phillips wrote about it I ask you to read her report. https://melaniephillips.substack.com/p/the-jihadi-onslaught-against-christians Sadly, Bethlehem is now barely 10% Christian. I love Rabbis, indeed clergy of all faiths, who look outside their own world. My dear friend Rabbi Jeremy Rosen did just that this week as he talked about a religious leader who he admired, Pope John 23rd. Pope John had the rare ability to see the world as it really was not as he had been taught, he changed that world in uncountable ways. Please read this excellent essay. https://jeremyrosen.com/2022/11/pope-john-23rd.html Racist, anti-Semitic attacks, both verbal and physical, have increased dramatically in the USA. American Universities have become a hotbed of hatred toward Jewish students in an overt and terrifying manner. I have written to Deans and Proctors of Universities asking why they do nothing about it. The answer is inevitably “Freedom of Speech” which is undoubtedly the least acceptable response. Freedom of speech? Freedom and democracy mean that all sectors are protected from hatred, not just one sector and no sector should be targetted. Kanye West is the latest example and his followers are mindlessly accepting his rants. If only he and his ilk could hear Rev Dr Martin Luther King speak of the Jews, who incidentally walk beside him from Selma and fought the fight with him. Until the Jews, no not only the Jews of the United States, all good folk, react and shun those responsible, life for the American Jew will become untenable. We had an interesting week, quite apart from the elections! Lots of visitors who make me feel so much better about being at home, and Zvi went to his audition with the newly formed Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra choir and was accepted!! Of course, anyone who knows him is not surprised, his mellifluous, bass baritone is world renowned – well amongst friends anyway! I am walking regularly, trying to build up toward my two kilometres a day and I walked to the polling booth with Zvi, which in itself was a lovely social event, meeting many people in our estate on our way and in the kindergarten where it was held. People are so friendly and caring as they cheer me on my way. One of my favourite aspects of Israel is that we all talk to strangers, irrespective of introductions, we just do it! Nattie and Yolli Zonszein came to visit and the “boys” went of on a Jerusalem exploration and Nattie and I sat out on the veranda enjoying the glorious weather, the colours of the hibiscus bushes, the burgeoning lime, kumquat and lemon trees and just being together. When the boys came back we went for lunch nearby in the Pop-Up Café in Kiriat Anavim with its glorious gardens making one feel so at home. Galia and Menashe came all the way from Yavneh and we just sat together “noshing” and talking about the world. Neighbours popping in and doing normal things is deeply appreciated as my recovery advances and of course a visit from Rachel lifts my mood enormously – her smile and a hug makes the world seem right. Perhaps this is the time to tell you that Zvi has been amazing! Caring and taking on all sorts of duties that I still can’t do. Impact-se (www.impact-se.org ) held a Zoom Board Meeting and I was so happy, as Chair, to see the faces of the board members as Marcus Sheff, our exceptional CEO, brought excellent reports of the changes in our region, changes which give hope in a seemingly hopeless period of time. I believe that the positivity of our work keeps me balanced and believing in the ultimate good of human beings. The weekly Torah portion this week is Lech Lecha – Go Forth – which tells the story of our people on so many levels. Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael…… https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3161/jewish/Lech-Lecha-in-a-Nutshell.htm As soon as I finish this missive, we are going to visit a young couple right here in the estate for coffee, but beforehand we will pop in to another young couple where the wife, mother of 3 young children, is recovering from very painful surgery for a persistent injury sustained in the terror attack on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem - 2002 when she was a child. And so to music! All those years ago, in what is now known as Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, Yitzchak Rabin joined in singing Shir Le Shalom, a song to peace in his off-key, gravelly, smoker’s voice before a Jewish zealot killed him and for many the hope he represented. Here Shiri Maimon sings https://youtu.be/Kr5wRdxBXgI Mosh Ben Ari wrote a song, a prayer for peace, a song of few words repeated over and over again. Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu – Peace will come to us - and to everyone. Salaam, Shalom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HViPVymlo&t=2s Continuing the theme of peace, of accepting each other, of opening our hearts to those who are different this song is called Song to Love or Together. In Hebrew and Arabic the words “Speak of Hope” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Jmyu6MQHc That’s it! Today promises to be very exciting on many levels. For Zvi, he is relieved of his caring duties and he will go to his parliament which will undoubtedly be quite noisy today as they discuss the election results and what they believe the compilation of the future government under the Prime Ministership of Benjamin Netanyahu will be. Then, at about 16:00 Zvi will go to Ben Gurion airport to collect our wonderful friend Dr Kimball Taylor from his marathon flights from Calgary in Canada and bring him home. Kim is here for the Jewish Agency meetings where he is a very active and important participant. Despite or maybe because of his LDS beliefs Kim is a very active participant of the Jewish Agency and pro-Israel activities in general. He also happens to be one of our very closest friends. This evening I will be leaving the environs of Jerusalem for the first time since my surgery, as we all set off for 11 year old Ori’s birthday, family Shabbat Dinner where we will meet up with Zvi’s cousin Jack Shapiro who is here from Mexico! It’s all very exciting! Unfortunately I will not see Rachel before Shabbat since I am still not allowed to drive, which, incidentally, is driving me crazy!! Perhaps the greatest lesson we Israelis have learned this week is that one must not give up hope, must accept the results of elections without rancour and work hard to prepare for the future. Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I wonder if you know how much I care for you, each and every one of you. I have grown to know you, to feel your pain and your joy. That’s why I beg of you, wherever you may be, stand by us because we are family. We may disagree but when it comes to the bottom line, we must stand up for each other. With all my love from Jerusalem, a city so beautiful, so spiritual that wars are fought over her. Her beauty is so great, her heart so big that there is enough for all her residents and the whole world to share. Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful Sabbath, Sheila