7th April 2022
Thursday
night exactly one week before the Passover Seder!
http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/tolerance-and-terror-in-tel-aviv/
It
is a time of festivals, religious festivals, from Ramadan to Easter and Pascha/Passover/Pesach.
Spring cleaning by any other name is in the air and the shops have scrubbed
down their shelves and replaced the "regular" foodstuffs with Kosher
for Passover goods. Even those of us who say "I don't understand why tea
or sugar or salt, in the exact same packaging as always, should need a label
saying Kosher for Passover – but I buy them anyway, because I would never give
as guest anything but the genuine article. The promise of family gatherings and
the scent of cleaning materials barely cover the finagling of politics. Idit
Silman, a right-wing member of the current government decided to find a timely
excuse to break away and resign from the coalition, the question of whether or
not one should be allowed to bring non-Kosher for Passover food into hospitals
over Passover. Her resignation letter was allegedly written for her by far-far-
right MK Smotrich. Really? Why is it always just before a festival? Do they
have to ruin everything? Of course the media immediately began with polls as to
whether this government can continue as a minority government? who's to blame? Will
there be elections before we have finished counting the Omer (between Passover
and Shevuout) the 49 days so similar to Lent? Of course the first thing that
happened was a right wing demonstration and Mr Netanyahu, leader of the
opposition, spoke publicly for the first time since the beginning of his
trial!! What politician can refuse an opportunity to gloat I ask you?
That's
it I've had my moan with a groan. Now to better thoughts.
Out
of tragedy good can come. When Druze policeman Amir Houri died in the Bnei Brak
terror attack it really hit the heart of Israelis of every denomination and
faith. Hundreds went to the funeral and the visitors to the Houri home have
continued without stop. The family has been surrounded by those who wished to
pay their respects and express their gratitude to this family who paid the
ultimate price for their loyalty to our little country.
The
media has made much of the "rioting" beside the Damascus Gate however
those who regularly visit the area say that there are wonderfully decorated
stalls with delicious foodstuffs for the worshippers to enjoy after sunset
during Ramadan. As always it is the few, maybe 15 or 20 yobbos with trouble in
their minds, having been inculcated with hate in the Mosques. Never ever paint
everyone with the same brush. However, when I was sent a video of a young
French Jew trying to escape a beating and fell to his death under the tram or
the young thugs beating up young Jews in NYC, the Upper West Side, or London,
it frightens me more than anything. When did it become dangerous to wear a
kippa and why? Who are these thugs? Who is responsible for their hatred and
what is being done about it?
Usually
everything is blamed on "settlers" in the foreign media but this week
I yet again understood that generalisation is a dangerous thing. I went to see
Rachel and the girls in Givat Ze'ev, to the little open-air shopping area by
the "Tahanat Delek" the petrol station. I love that the shoppers and owners
alike are from every walk of life, Jewish Israelis, Arab Israelis,
Palestinians, everyone together just being, without friction, without anger,
just being…..just being.
We
know how to deal with our own region and as I have reported time and again, we
are making great strides in changing the education of young people, taking hate
out and putting tolerance in to their curriculum – and it is working, slowly,
one child at a time, as more and more countries recognise that the hatred of
the past cannot continue – and the schoolbooks were filled with hatred, not
only of Jews but of all who did not follow the teachings of Islam. Now a new
openness is coming to this region, women are no longer described as chattels;
respect and tolerance toward "the other" is being taught; a far more
moral approach is being taken toward non-believers and more and more countries
are now demanding that the Palestinian Authority joins Bahrain, UAE, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia (yes really) Morocco and others in taking hatred out of their
children's schoolbooks. The latest news is that the EU is threatening to stop funding
if they do not comply. Comply? They must make changes according to the Criteria
of Tolerance in Education of UNESCO – all as a result of the reports compiled
by Impact-se www.impact-se.org and the hard work of our
CEO.
This
Shabbat is called Shabbat ha Gadol, the Great Shabbat or the Important Shabbat.
As with everything from the Torah the interpretation is open to discussion. The
Torah reading is about the Plagues that the Almighty brought down upon the Egyptians,
indeed about the lambs that were bound before the plague of the First-born,
which is thought to be the time that the Children of Israel began to understand
that something important was about to happen, that they would soon be free from
slavery. I didn't know that originally
Christians celebrated Easter on Shabbat HaGadol, but then it was changed, and
the Seder night was also changed from Shabbat haGadol. Gosh this is getting
complicated! Anyway, one thing we are sure of is that the Last Supper was
indeed the Seder Night, and basically we have so much in common, much more in
common than that which separates us.
So
let's get back to traditions, it's far less complicated than the history of who
does what and when!
Homes
are cleaned, not just cleaned but CLEANED! Surfaces are scrubbed, fridges
emptied and cleaned, many putting aluminium foil to cover all surfaces so that kitchens
look like spaceships! Once all the breadcrumbs have been swept out of the
house, not under the carpet because that is outside being beaten to death! Then
comes the exciting part, all the special foods that need to be bought and
stored ready for the marathon cooking spurt just before the big night! This
year we are just 20, I can't remember everyone who is coming but I can promise
they will have a place at our table. First comes the blessing over the wine and
then we are off, recounting the story of Pharaoh, Egypt, Slaves, Moses and of
course how the Almighty freed us. Before the food comes the "Seder Plate" https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-seder-plate/
, each of the six items has a special
meaning and receives a blessing, and of
course the Matza or unleavened bread. This is followed by hard boiled eggs in
salt water, yes really, it is actually delicious, before we dive into the food.
There are so many traditions of what one can and cannot eat on Passover,
totally dependent upon the lands of our dispersion. Ashkenazi Jews cannot eat
any pulses whereas Eastern Jews can and do, which is cause of great jealousy on
my part since my Ashkenazi soul cannot break with the traditions of my
ancestors and eat a lovely dish of rice! After the meal one says grace and then
the last part of the story and then…….we sing! The first song is the most important
"Next Year in Jerusalem" the prayer of 2,000 years. Today it is sung
to a joyful tune but once………
Tradition.
It's all about tradition. The traditions of our parents, their parents and
their parents going back hundreds and hundreds of years. We are called upon to tell
the story of our slavery, the interpretations of the Rabbis and Zvi always says
that the most important characters of the story that we read are the Four Sons.
It is the story of four young men "One who is wise, One who is wicked, One
who is simple and one who does not know to ask." Many say that these four
sons represent the levels of knowledge of our religion. The wise son who learns
and carries out the blessings; the wicked son who may have learned but derides
anything to do with his religion; the simple son who is too busy with TikTok to
bother with anything and the one who doesn't know what to ask because nobody
bothered to teach him. What do you think?
Tomorrow
morning, really early, we are off for a break with the choir. We are going
South, touring and learning, stopping for a picnic to which everyone brings sandwiches,
quiches and cakes, then arrive at the Kibbutz Guest House well before Shabbat so
that we can get ready for Shabbat Dinner. Shabbat Dinner with the choir (Hakol Yachassi)
is fabulous. We are all old friends and we sing together, starting with Zvi's
Kiddush, singing traditional Shabbat songs. We then sit together and sing some
more! On Shabbat morning we go for a walking tour coming back for a traditional
lunch, then rest and come home after the Sabbath is out, after nightfall. It is
a wonderful break from Passover preparations!
I'm
going now, and I hope that I'll manage to write to you next week since the
Seder night is on Thursday, but I promise to try.
If
not, I wish you a good Pesach, a Blessed Easter and a Holy Ramadan. I would be
a fine world if only we could all accept and embrace our differences and
recognise our similarities.
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. Remember to sing "Next Year in Jerusalem" with
gusto and if you don't know the melody…
There is a terror attack in Tel Aviv right at
this moment, just as I was telling you of the joy of Passover. At least 5
people in serious condition as a terrorist began shooting in all directions.
The shooter has not been caught yet. It was a beautiful balmy evening and many
people were out enjoying the night life of Tel Aviv. I must go, without songs I
fear. I must watch the reports, check on family and friends. Again, yet again,
hate wins through. The security forces expected an attack in Jerusalem but yet
again it is in the Central region. Why, why? Why can't we all live together in
peace?
With
love
Sheila
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