Politics, Paphos and Shalva

 24^th June, 2022

25^th Sivan 5782

 

Shabbat Shalom, I hope you are well and the new Covid variant hasn't got you!

 

I'm fascinated by the way that the Covid virus, itself a variant of the SARS virus, is constantly morphing into new forms, challenging our scientists and even our politicians, almost certainly never to be eradicated. There are several pharmaceutical companies, small research institutions that believe they have the answer but unfortunately do not have the loud voices of big, highly profitable companies. Just this week there was a piece on Israeli television about one such company that, right from the beginning, is certain they have an answer, but they didn't succeed in getting to the former government with what they say is a cheap and effective solution. Sadly I only saw the end and didn't catch the name of the company.

 

Morphing, adapting to one's surroundings, adapting to new norms, adapting to society's huge changes over the last 20 years, in fact over the last 10 years, OK let's admit it, every day brings changes to which we have to adapt, especially how to use the written word. One of the saddest aspects of the world of sms, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp is that the principle of  "once a word has left your mouth you cannot get it back" while still applicable is not used and harsh words are forever in the ether. This can be on person to person exchanges or it can be used for "fake news", character assassination, bullying and incitement to terrifying acts of violence or abuse. As technology leaps ahead at the speed of light the restraints and laws are unable, or unwilling to control their horrific results.

 

Morphing can be a good thing, as long as we aren't talking about a virus!  Each and every day we adapt to change, adapt to our ever changing situation, adapt to our religious reality. We no longer live in tiny villages and shtetls, we live in the big wide world and trying to hang on to the tenets of our ancestors without accepting the world outside and understanding it can lead to a total erosion of our past………I could go on and on about continuity but I won't because you know how I feel.

 

Hands up who can understand Israeli politics. OK hands up anyone who understands politics but especially Israeli politics! I never thought it possible to have a surfeit of democracy but apparently there is. The current government, made up of disparate views, succeeded in passing a budget that was held up for 3 years plus, in working together, left and right, Arab and Jew, in a truly democratic and special manner which gave hope to all of us in the centre who are sick and tired of the lies, shenanigans, indictments and divisive policies of the previous 12 years.  To resign from a position of power, to hand over that power while speaking of one's successor with amity and admiration, is unique. To do so with grace and love of country even rarer. 

 

We, in Israel have become used to swaggering self-satisfaction and refusal to relinquish power and, quite honestly, Naftali Bennett's speech moved me deeply. Some thrive upon the poisoned slings and arrows of politics and it is rare to find a self-effacing leader but we did. He brought impossible factions together despite the sneering backstabbing of the opposition's leader and his lackies. I am certain that time and history will be kind to Naftali Bennett.

The opposition and its leadership have resorted to many dirty tricks and lies over the last year but Bennett  and Lapid rose above the malicious tactics of the opposition. Naftali Bennett was labelled an extreme rightist, yet it is he, and his government, who included two Arab parties, Meretz, Avodah, New Hope, Yamina, Blue and White and Yesh Atid giving us a truly representative government. I'm disappointed that they were not able to survive, pray that they will form an even wider coalition and come back fighting.

 

President Biden has decided to come to Israel and to Saudi Arabia despite our political changes. He knows Prime Minister Lapid and recognises the importance of his visit. I can promise him a very warm welcome here. Of course he knows everything there is to know about Jerusalem having listened in rapt attention to Zvi's explanations while we were in the Jerusalem Municipality all those years ago. Of course I am joking but I can say that of all the politicians who visited during that time he was staunchly pro-Israel.

 

Despite the many anti-Israel statements by the Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pronounced Erdowan) the Turkish Security Forces have worked hand in glove with the Israeli Security Services have successfully foiled the Iranian attempt to murder Israelis vacationing in Turkey (in fact anywhere) – particularly in Istanbul. At least 14 potential terrorist attacks have been foiled. I am disturbed at the number of Israelis who ignored the warnings of our Security people and went on vacation there anyway but deeply grateful for the successful cooperation. Zvi and I have been to Turkey several times and found the people warm and friendly. The biggest difference, I am told, is that whereas pre-Erdogan Istanbul the women wore Western dress, more and more are wearing burkas. Basically, Attaturk is spinning in his grave, but when it came down to the wire, our common desire for security came through.

 

This is International Pride Month. I don't always understand why there should be specific times to be open and tolerant, I would have thought one should always be open and tolerant  but maybe I'm wrong. One of the biggest stumbling blocks we, at Impact-se have encountered in our quest for tolerance in education in the MENA region concerns LGBTQ representation, nowhere more so than in the Palestinian Authority. This article discusses it. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-709930

 

Question. Grasshoppers! What on earth do grasshoppers have to do with the Torah and this week? As always, when I am searching for a way to relate Bible readings to our life today I turn to my lovely friend Rabbi Jeremy Rosen. This week we read about the 12 "spies" that Moses sent to check out this land. Why put "spies" in inverted commas? Because Moses never called them spies, more like couriers or observers who could come back with their opinions of the land. Jeremy writes "They returned from exploring the land and their reports were divided (like Supreme Courts today) into two very different opinions. They all agreed it was fertile and rich, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” But ten of them said that the people were too strong, too powerful and they felt inadequate, overpowered, and in modern psychological terms, inferior and insecure. They described themselves as feeling like grasshoppers Chagavim, and they said that that that was precisely what the Canaanites thought too “and so we were in their eyes.” How did they know? They overheard them talking, said Rashi. Only Joshua and Caleb came back with positive reports. Read how Rabbi Rosen relates it to today https://www.jwire.com.au/shabbat-shelach-lecha-grasshoppers/  I see those who see obstacles and run and those who see obstacles and find a way around them.

 

I haven't heard any grasshoppers or cicadas near our home but I am so thrilled with the constant visits of the little sunbirds to my new birdfeeder. It is a container of sugar water with several flower shapes from which the sunbirds feed. I am entranced by the iridescent black males and the tiny brown females. They give a sweet chirp as they drink and often the males stand atop a bamboo stick calling out to others to come and imbibe! I have a problem at the moment, I cannot go past a plant nursery with bringing something home! Our veranda is huge and despite all attempts to fill it with colour there is always room for more petunias or begonias! Zvi took me to Pop Up, one of my very favourite cafes for breakfast yesterday (our 26^th wedding anniversary) and I relished in the surroundings – barely room for tables with blossom trees, flowers, hanging baskets forming a veritable bower with delicious food being served between. Not only did we enjoy our Croissant Croque Madame and the delightful waiter called Ran, the surroundings made us smile. One of several coffee shops and restaurants with the same owners; all Kosher, all of very high culinary standard – including the coffee shop in Shalva.

 

That's a perfect Segway into the next paragraph! On July 3^rd we are holding the official opening of Dr. Dan's Room, the studio for the performing arts which honours my incredible son, Dr. Daniel Cammerman, who was tragically killed in an accident in Central Park two and a half years ago. Out of inexplicable personal tragedy we have succeeded not only in ensuring that Daniel's name is on a project, this is so much more. From the minute I walked in through the doors to that phenomenal entrance hall filled with words of hope on the walls, butterflies hanging from the ceilings and the joyous sound of happy children I knew this was where I wanted to create something for Daniel. He would have loved this place, not only as a paediatrician but as uncle to my phenomenal, beautiful, oh so special grandson Sammy. I was met by Gaby – yes Gaby not Gabby – whose warmth and kindness grew into a deep friendship, together with Avi and Kalman Samuels who have taken me in as family, the Shalva family. So many of you have made this dream come true with your generosity to "Remembering Daniel" the name Gaby chose for the campaign. Although Dr. Dan's Room is complete, it doesn't herald the end of my relationship with Shalva. I want to be involved, to remain part of the Shalva family. I don't know if you understand the scope of Shalva worldwide https://vimeo.com/204855149

 

Paphos, Cyprus. Last Thursday we took our hand luggage and set off for Terminal One in Ben Gurion Airport. It was surprisingly organised, probably because school holidays had not started yet. We were whisked through (there are very few advantages to having disabled status but that is one of them) and the delightful woman at the check-in security decided that  we were not security risks and gave us a pass so that I needn't stand in line! The flight was not bad despite being Ryanair, just 50 minutes flight and we were in Paphos. The people were very friendly, actually I have to admit most businesses were British owned(!) and very chatty, and we walked almost everywhere. The archaeology is amazing, the mosaic park phenomenal and huge, the Greek influence and mythology in Cyprus is fascinating and we had a wonderful time, if too short. We hadn't time to discover the Jewish element of Paphos, probably because we didn't know there was one! We knew there was a Chabad House and little kosher shop but not this fascinating aspect https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/746303/jewish/A-Jewish-Detective-in-Cyprus.htm

 

Two day ago Rachel, Yosef and I headed off to Tel Aviv for a very special meeting. Lunch with my British cousins on my father's side! Rachel obviously knows Ian and Sue but not Steven and Debbie. Yosef had never met any of them before and I was thrilled by the way he held a political debate with Steven in perfect English. Not bad for a 17 year old Israel! It was such a joy to sit in a relaxed atmosphere and get to know everyone anew.

 

If music be the food of love play on

 

Every member of the Shalva Band has turned disabilities into abilities, those you see and those you don't. A Million Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnnOWLm3oxI

 

To Give, to give of ourselves. I always say that until we know how to receive love we cannot give love. Boaz Sharabi is a fine singer, and I know this is not the first time I've given you this video but I truly love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E7Xtl2IXjs

 

Whenever I feel down, whether it's the political situation, BDS, Roger Waters, Iran, guns, natural and personal disasters this song picks me up. Katan Alenu! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHVAWnCXBkU The best pick me up ever!!

 

Shabbat Shalom to you all, wherever you may be in this world; whether you face Jerusalem, Mecca or pray in Latin, Arabic, Hebrew, English, Spanish……. All irrelevant if you pray for peace and tolerance in our insane world.

 

My heart goes out to the wonderful Gaby who just wrote to me to tell me of the passing of her sister Judith. May her sweet soul rest in peace. In Hebrew one says "May you be consoled among the mourners of Zion and know no more sorrow"

 

 

With love from Jerusalem, the centre of our world, the fabulous mosaic, rainbow of humanity trying to get along together, sometimes succeeding although not always, but we always try!

Sheila

 

  

Cyprus

 220616

16^th June 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 

I'm ignoring the politics and diplomacies of this world, not because it doesn't influence our every day life, or the price of fuel which has affected everything else, but because Zvi and I are off to Pathos, in Cyprus, tomorrow morning.

 

I should tell you that the last time Zvi surprised me with a vacation it was less exciting and more traumatic than being told at midnight that we were going away for a few days to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Imagine sitting in the car on the way to dinner with friends in Tel Aviv when suddenly Zvi took the Ben Gurion turn-off. I think I threatened to jump out of the car until he told me that we were on our way to Antalya in Turkey. Of course I was horrified "What about clothes? Passport? Medicines? Make up"? All logical questions but he had packed everything I remember nothing about the journey but will be ever grateful of the holiday because we met Norman and Lola Cohen, who became such dear friends. Of course that's one vacation that we will not be taking right now – the Iranians are threatening to kill any Israelis in Turkey – which does not thrill Erdogan and caused Foreign Minister Lapid to warn Israelis to come home immediately. Incredibly they are still flying out there! As Forest Gump said "Stupid is as stupid does"

 

Back to Cyprus. Our wonderful downstairs neighbours, who have our house key, obviously agreed to take care of everything and then the husband, Naftali, said "Give my best to my birthplace, Nicosia" of course I understood what he meant, his family were in the British POW camp in Cyprus after WW2 and before 1948. For me my memories are so different. Cyprus was the source of lunchtime entertainment with my beautiful Zeidy, my grandfather who I adored. Each day he would collect me from my school across the road from their house and take me home for lunch, cooked by my Bubby, grandmother, who was a terrific cook. After lunch we just had time for the radio programme from BFPO (British Forces Posted Overseas) where soldiers got to speak to their loved ones and play a tune. The moment anyone says Cyprus my mind goes back to "Famagusta calling, Famagusta calling" – or  "Nicosia calling" my childhood memories are so warm and undoubtedly Naftali's are quite different. He has promised to come up with his wife Yael and tell us his story over a glass of good wine and some cake when we return.

 

This has been another crazy week filled with meetings, arrangements and general craziness so we are really looking forward to a real rest and a lot of spoiling!

 

So dear friends, that's it! I am not even referring to our sadly failing government. Much to my surprise Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak came out, in a well publicised interview, extolling the successes of this government despite the shenanigans of the opposition. This opposition led by a one man band and his followers, rather than preparing itself for a return to government has spent all its time deriding the current government and voting against everything including votes important to their supporters! I am proud of the successes of the government under impossible odds. I hope and pray that enough members of the Likud will defect and join forces with them.

 

Professor Gerald Steinberg is not only erudite, his analyses of the Middle East wake us up

1967 -2022 Ending 55 years of Temporary Drift and Chaos

https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-708978

 

Before I end I want you to think about the words of the late Charles Krauthammer, The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998

"Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store."

 

Just think about it. Inside Israel and outside Israel, everyone is trying to change us, perhaps, as Charles Krauthammer wrote, there are many things worth hanging on to.

 

The first song this week has nothing to do with Israel, it isn't religious but it is the basis of our lives on this earth. Lean on Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YapAxPfRyI

 

Everyone knows the song Dona Dona, even if it's just the Joan Baez version. Her eit is sung in Yiddish, English and Hebrew – something for everyone to join in! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGz3Zm0IVzw

 

Now for a real treat! I told you all about the Cantus Choir Concert in the Jerusalem YMCA, conceivably the most beautiful building in Jerusalem. The concert was fabulous, packed house and ecstatic audience, well I have the YouTube of them singing "You Raise Me Up". You may recognise the handsome, tall guy at the back!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkupB1JUsDs

 

Hopefully I'll have lots of stories to tell you next week but for the meantime, I've said goodbye to all my beautiful trees, the little lemon tree is smothered in blossom and baby lemons; the kumquat is similarly full of blossom and then the lime and orange trees promised to produce blossom before we get back. The flowers are well watered and should be fine until we return.

 

Be well everyone, take care, Covid isn't leaving us so just take precautions.

 

Shabbat Shalom to each and every one of you. I'm actually thrilled, no recipes for you this week because I won't be cooking!!

 

With love from Jerusalem, take care of her while we are gone.

Sheila

 

 

So Sorry We won - Not

 220610

10^th June 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom! How are you? I hope this week has been kind to you.

 

Andrea Bocelli gave a performance in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night before an audience of over 20,000, and from what I hear, it was simply stupendous! Our lovely friends Anita and Robert Simons were there and Anita waxed lyrical about the performance as a whole, especially since Bocelli brought his children with him and they sang alongside their father. Israeli soprano Shiri Maimon sang alongside him her beautiful voice melding perfectly with his. Before the show, Bocelli met with former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who at the singers request gave him the priestly blessing for success. Bocelli visited Jerusalem on Thursday, praying at both the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I imagine that standing at the Kotel and feeling the ancient stones, he was able to sense the history far more deeply than those of us who are with sight.

 

A friend wrote on Facebook that this week the number one movie is Top Gun; the number one in the British charts is a song by Kate Bush and the USA is in a proxy war with Russia and I responded that we are in 1984. I found so many appropriate Orwell quotes that I was spoiled for choice. Appropriate to what? Well, pick your democratic country and you will find a quote to describe the current political chaos. We live in a dystopian world of untruths, doublespeak and Newspeak. Here in Israel the determination of the Opposition to bring about the downfall of the current government that they were willing to voter against laws that they were morally bound to pass. Boris Johnson is failing; Joe Biden weakening. The quote I chose is "The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history" Make of it as you will.

 

Today, 55 years ago, we were in the middle of conceivably the shortest war in history, just 6 days, yet the longest war in history because, sadly, we are still fighting it. As Abba Eban said at the time "This is the first war in history which has ended with the victors suing for peace and the vanquished calling for unconditional surrender"

 

Ephraim Kishon, the Hungarian/Israeli satirist and author, wrote a prophetic book "So Sorry We Won" fully understanding that we had lost the underdog position for ever. Kishon's best-known quotes include: “Israel is a country so tiny that there is no room to write its name on the world map” and “It is a country where nobody expects miracles, but everybody takes them for granted.” It is, of course, even today a country at the center of the theatre of the absurd whereby we are demonised, vilified and stigmatised by those with whom we share our core values.

 

After just 19 years of Jordanian rule over the Old City, we could return to our Holy sites. I still remember that day October the 4th 1967 when I walked up towards the Western Wall with my father and brother. It was the eve of Rosh Hashanah and finally we were able to go and pray at the wall.It wasn't even remotely like the Kotel one visits today; there was no plaza and there was rubble everywhere, only half of the current section of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount could be seen, all had been hidden as it was built upon, and we moved forward together to touch the ancient stones. I can never recapture those moments, there was something raw and deeply spiritual about the newly unearthed structure and of course there was, as yet, no separation between men and women. For those who would argue that point I have photos of that day.  Today it is a major tourist site with truly magnificent displays, exhibits, tunnels and museums but for me it cannot recapture the raw beauty of 1967. https://thekotel.org/en/

 

As I bring us back to today, despite the perfidious behaviour of most of our former allies, the acceptance of sheer lies, nay calumny, by the supposed beautiful people of the left, we have some excellent new allies, countries whose leaders understand the Middle East and are ready to move forward and learn from the only democracy in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords have opened doors that we always thought were firmly slammed in our face and locked with multiple keys, but just as they say that every leader needs an enemy to prove his leadership, so we can disprove that old adage. It began with the Emirates and through the desire to make enormous changes in the language used in their schoolbooks many other nations in the MENA region are moving forward beside Israel. Please please look at the www.impact-se.org reports on the willingness for change expressed by many of the very countries that our politicians (and theirs) called us enemies.  I promise you that it will make your day – especially when you read about the response of the EU to the PA's refusal to take hate out of their curriculum!

 

My favourite quote of the week comes from the wonderful Hen Mazzig who spreads Israel's word all over the world.

You can love Israel without hating Palestinians

You can love Palestinians without hating Israel

 

Sunday was Shevuot, the Feast of Weeks,

 

On Monday morning I met with my friend Rabbi David Greenberg and his group at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem. I was thrilled when Rabbi David asked me to speak to the group at breakfast before they left on their day's trip, and as we sat around the tables outside the dining room, in the beautiful atrium of the hotel I explained who I was then what I do (and Zvi of course although he was at a different appointment) I then asked for questions. Those questions centred around the question of hasbara – of Israel success or lack of it, in getting our point of view, our stories, over to the mass media. My response was met with disbelief as I explained how much information is disseminated and never picked up. There are very few journalists who dare to go against the owners and advertisers of the large media outlets. I was thrilled at the knowledge of many of the group and especially one gentleman who was incredibly well informed. I don't know his name, I know he is a physician at Mount Sinai Hospital. Throughout the brief encounter I saw Arlette's smiling face supporting me – thank you Sari, your friend is very special.

 

In the afternoon Rachel suddenly appeared with Talia and Ayala which was great fun. I always have a frozen roll of Talia's favourite home-made cookies in the freezer, waiting to be sliced and baked while Ayala prefers……well anything that I can bake or make in an instant!!

 

On Tuesday Rachel and I met with Gaby and Alex at Shalva to discuss the July opening of Dr Dan's Room, the Studio for Dance, Music and Drama in Shalva. I cannot believe that after two years and Covid hold-ups, the Room is not only ready but young people are already enjoying it. Volunteers from the Khan Theatre and the Jerusalem Music Academy will ensure that the children have every chance of taking their hard earned skills forward. With every day I know that this is the most beautiful way to keep my exceptional son Daniel's memory alive in a manner that he would have loved. The opening isn't the end of the project, it is only the beginning and for me the Shalva Family has taken me in with open arms and eased my grief with their love. https://give.shalva.org/daniel

 

In the evening we met with Anita and Robert Simons, all the way from Sydney Australia, for a delicious supper at Naya, in nearby Beit Nekufa. That place is ridiculously busy. It was only after trying every possible time to book a table for four that they finally managed to fit us in at the ridiculously early hour of 18:30! It was wonderful to catch up with them and then we called in to show them our new apartment before Zvi took them back to the King David.

 

Wednesday was a quiet day, a chance to catch our breath, it was also my sister Doreen's birthday! I can tell you her age because none of you would believe it if you saw her. At 84 she is still beautiful, slender, bright and busy!

 

Actually Wednesday was not only birthday celebrations and a quiet day. Various forests and woods surrounding our home on the final climb up to Jerusalem, were set alight, arson, and I was tempted to say "We plant trees and they burn trees" and a particularly left wing friend said that I shouldn't generalise. Believe me I'm the last person to generalise. 99% of Palestinians would never even think of burning trees and resultant danger to human life – but the fact is that young Palestinians started the fires. How do I know? Because each of the separate fires had several points of conflagration.

 

Yesterday I was in the German Colony of Jerusalem. I love that area and every road tells a story. Apparently it was where all the German Christian Pilgrims used to stay and many bought homes. One visitor was Adolph Eichmann. Anyway when the British Mandate came in all the old German names of the narrow, tree lined streets were changed so that now the streets are called Josiah Wedgewood, Lloyd George, John Henry Patterson (Commander of the Jewish Legion in WW1) and Wyndham Deedes (a Zionist British General). The architecture is gorgeous and right in the middle of the main street, Emek Refaim, is the Templar Cemetery. Well worth a wander!

 

Tonight we have a quiet Shabbat meal, perhaps we will invite a couple of neighbours for a tipple and "pitsuchim" (nuts, crackers etc) after supper because it promises to be a wonderful balmy night. The streets of central Tel Aviv came alive, as of about 10 minutes ago. The Tel Aviv Gay parade has begun. It is a festive parade with a serious purpose, not just a reason to dress outrageously and dance in the street. Here the Gay parade is to put forward the rights of Gay couples, the right to be recognised as a couple by law.

 

Tomorrow we are meeting our lovely friends Judy and Michael Baum for Shabbat lunch. I love them! If you haven't ready any of Michael's books you really should, they are rivetting and you can learn a great deal about the archaeological digs here in Israel. Especially The Third Tablet of the Holy Covenant and Aaron's Rod. Perhaps we will go for a walk, Zvi and Michael talking local politics and Judy and I just enjoying our walk.

 

The first piece of music isn't singing, has nothing to do with music and isn't in Israel but I guarantee you will love it! This is what I pray that Dr. Dan's Room in Shalva will create – the chance to excel. Never think that just because a child is born with Down's syndrome that they cannot be stars. https://youtu.be/MMucfdhnzMA

 

Shlomi Shabbat is one of my favourite Israeli singers. This song, this tribute to Jerusalem, is one of those rare songs that does this beautiful city justice. I hope you love it as much as I do https://youtu.be/_kQCTlFuCqQ

 

We are a tribe, a tribe of brothers and sisters no matter who we are or to whom or what we pray. We are meant to pull together, to strive for the same goals and not to be torn apart as our politicians (or some of them) would have. Eastern, Western, Ashkenaz, Sefarad, Mizrachi, Ethiopian, Yemenite, Moroccan, Egyptian, Anglo, Russian or Polish we are one. We are a Tribe of Brothers and Sisters https://youtu.be/HrcnYpZT6w4

 

With love from Jerusalem,

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

The Jubilee, Pentecost, Shevuot and another crazy week

 220603

3^rd of June 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom! I hope you are well and that your week left you smiling

 

For those of us who love Queen Elizabeth the 2^nd, Wasn't yesterday's ceremonial event glorious? Everything from the various regiments of the Guards, the horses (and the truck that went around collecting their residue) the crowds in the Circle and the Mall, the sheer joy of the occasion and finally the Queen, Her Majesty is such an appropriate title for a truly majestic lady, and her family appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to the roar of joy from the crowd. This 96 year old stood throughout the fly past (I loved the aeroplane formation of 70 in the sky) bending to explain what was happening to her great grandson and chatting away with her son, a smile breaking out on both occasions. Her leadership may be titular but her example is supreme.

 

The police were everywhere but did not touch anyone and smiled constantly, alert but polite and discreet. As they say you can take the Brit out of Britain but not Britain out of the Brit!! I love Israel, wouldn't live anywhere else but Britain is best at creating an atmosphere of pomp and circumstance without exaggeration or bling!

 

So to this week in the world of the mundane, everyday life of us ordinary folk.

 

Perhaps I'll start at the end then work back, not backwards but…..you know what I mean!

 

Yesterday I had a phone call from the CEO of www.impact-se.org , the research institute of which I am so proud to be Chairman of the Board. Anyway, Marcus Sheff (CEO) called to update me on so many advances that I couldn't stop smiling for hours. Open the link and you will see the incredible advances made by the team in the sphere of Tolerance in Education in th entire MENA region and of course Israel, all sectors. More and more Islamic countries have come to the realization that if they want normalization in their relations with the West (as opposed to Iran) they have to change the way they teach their children – hate teaching cannot continue. Indeed hate teaching is against the Koran and against the basic tenets of their religion.

 

Let me go back to the beginning!

Since our "limousine" breathed its last drop of petrol, after 19 years of excellent service (a tiny Daihatsu whose paintwork had long given up in the Israeli sun) and two busy people tried to manage with one car, we went to look at alternatives. Electric? Hybrid? Petrol? We are still deciding! I was at home while Zvi went to a rehearsal for ……..wait that comes later!

 

One Monday Gaby Hirsch, from Shalva, came for a cup of coffee to help me decide when to organise the official opening of Dr. Dan's Room, the incredible Studio for Music, Dance and Drama in the name of my beautiful son Daniel who was killed in an accident two and a half years ago while riding through Central Park. https://give.shalva.org/daniel

 

In the afternoon we went to the shloshim (30 days after someone passes away) of our dear friend Frida z"l. Here in Israel the tombstone is laid after 30 days, not a year as in the Diaspora. It was very moving, a beautiful ceremony and since Frida was a singer with an exceptional voice, we al sang her favourite song, which coincidentally is mine too. Lelechet Shevi Acharaich – a love song to Israel. https://youtu.be/FQLU1a-rnGA

 

Tuesday and I had lunch with the Queen of Cardiff. Tema Gaba is an institution, a wonderful incredible lady celebrated her hundredth birthday this week. I love sitting and talking with her, enjoying her world of knowledge and sweet memories of my parents. Tema, like the Queen, served in the British Army during WW2 and any opportunity to hear her tales of those times lights up everyone who knows and loves her. I wish you could meet her, a wonderful Welsh Lady! Unlike the Queen there was no big celebration, no fly past, no Grenadier Guards,  just joy in knowing someone who really did humble but great things in her life.

 

Wednesday Zvi had another rehearsal……. Yes you already know, that comes later…and I managed to sneak in a quick visit to Rachel and the children to be renewed with their hugs. You would think that the climb up to Samuel's Tomb and the view, the panorama of Jerusalem laid out in front of me, would become everyday, but it doesn't. Each time I look out over my city I am amazed anew. Such incredible beauty, even the new city, built of gleaming white stone, is beautiful stretching before me in a huge jigsaw of hills, houses, highrises and cranes – yes the national bird of Israel is the building crane! We just don't have enough housing especially as the wave of new immigrants is growing, surprisingly from the USA and the West.

 

Finally we come to Thursday and the truly magnificent concert of the Cantus Choir of the Jerusalem Academy of Music was held in the YMCA theatre. The YMCA is conceivably the most beautiful building in Jerusalem. Situated opposite the King David Hotel its cupolas and towers, arches and gardens dominate the eye and the atmosphere is wonderful. The theatre has a high, decorated cupola and a full proscenium arch with a second cupola behind it. One by one the choir filed onto and up on the stands and magic happened. Each and every song, conducted by the beautiful and talented Ronit Banit, resounded from the stage to the full audience. We were captivated. I'll try to make a YouTube for you. Instead of going out to a coffee shop our friends Eva and Eli came to us for coffee and cheeses and we had such a lovely time.

 

The funny part is that the city was empty because there was a huge and very well organised, joyful Gay Parade nearby in the Bell Park. We feared that nobody would get to the concert because of the level of traffic and lack of parking, but in fact, I came straight into the city from the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus with barely another car on the road and suddenly, right at the gate to the YMCA a perfect parking spot was waiting just for me!

 

Another fascinating fact about the Gay Parade. For many years it was held in various Israeli cities but not in Jerusalem, for a million reasons, but it was a Haredi Mayor who made the decision to allow the Gay Parade in Jerusalem and apart from one tragic incident when a crazy man killed a young participant , Shira Banki z"k who as marching to support friends, it has been a wonderful and colourful addition to the Jerusalem calendar.

 

Talking of parades, after the Flag Parade last week and the disruption caused by two factions of the extreme right, Defence Minister Gantz is considering declaring both Lehava and La Familia  terrorist organisations.

 

I did an upside down missive this week – I felt the need to write about lovely things instead of only politics and shootings.

 

Uri Zohar, a major player on the Israeli stage and screen, passed away yesterday at the age of 86. Zohar began as a secular Jew, became a Haredi Jew yet never lost his tolerance for the opinions of others and continued to influence many. Together with Arik Einstein, two of his children married two of Einstein's children, he made an iconic skit called Lul, about the various 'Aliyas" to Israel showing that nothing is new and each new wave of immigrants has to adapt to life here, as everywhere. Brilliant and very funny! https://youtu.be/PVDrqFGfAdY

 

I learned something this week, in fact today, from an article written by Liat Collins in the Jerusalem Post. I hadn't realised that the Ottoman Empire, which occupied this land for 70 years, expelled the Jews of Jaffa in 1914. Moslems were allowed to return to Jaffa but Jews were not and they are mostly buried in Kfar Saba. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-708455 . So much we don't realise, so much that preceded the State of Israel. Even we sometimes accept that we must be guilty of something because the media tells us we are all the time.

 

Almost the end of the Counting of the Omer, nearly the Feast of Weeks, Shevuot.   Rabbi Jeremy Rosen describes beautifully the relevance of Shevuot, of the words we use and the kindness we should express. If you want to understand the real meaning of Shevuot, of the festival and of the reading of the story of Ruth, beautiful Ruth who chose to be a Jewess and became a true Jewish heroine by following her mother in law Naomi. "Shevuot is so much more than "Whither thou goest I goest"  https://jeremyrosen.com/2022/06/shavuot-2022.html

 

This weekend and Shevuot which follows on the tails of Shabbat we will be eating only milk products – no meat or chicken – more of a tradition than a law. Cheesecakes galore, blintzes of every description and the supermarkets sport shelves after shelves of Israeli cheeses hard, soft and white varieties, yoghurts, creams, butter and the world famous Israeli cottage cheese which unlike its namesake in the rest of the world, has no "marbles" it is soft and creamy and like all the cheeses there is a 5% alternative which tastes just as good! We have a crazy schedule of friends and family, because this is Israel and everyone invites or is invited for the festivals. Barely a table lays bare, all burgeoning with delicacies and most with 10, 15, 20 and 30 diners! We are a country that entertains at home, rather than restaurants. We are a country of great cooks, men and women cook at home, usually a combined effort, and a very informal manner. Children are very much seen and heard and part of the scene, never sent to bed at 6 o'clock they join in conversations, unless it is boring and turns to politics in which case they are excused to go and play until dessert!!

 

Time to go and prepare the food that I will be taking with me to each home. Herb and lemon baked salmon for tonight; my yummy lemon cake for tomorrows brunch (one comes home from the synagogue and immediately eat rather than waiting until lunchtime);  blintzes and crepes for tomorrow evenings holiday meal. No cooking for Monday evening after the festival ends because we are going to the annual party in the home of Meme and Liora, a party that was on hold during Corona (Covid-19) and has joyfully come back on the scene.

 

You already had one song right at the beginning of this missive so let's find two more!

 

This is one to join in! Everybody, no matter what their faith, knows Hava Nagila. Here Harry Belafonte and Danny Kaye sing together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZutenWFKSlE

 

The next song is my mantra, Smile sung by Nat King Cole, his voice reaches into the depths of my soul and the song, the song has so much deep meaning and an important message. Here with clips of the inimitable Charlie Chaplin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rkNBH5fbMk

 

I wish you a good weekend, on Sunday Christians celebrate Whitsun, or Whit Sunday the British name for Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter – you see, we have so much in common. The counting of the Omer (between Passover and Shevuot) is 49 days and Pentecost is…..7 weeks! When I was a child this was a Christian festival but has since changed its name to Spring Bank Holiday. Not sure that is progress but that's today's world. Jews will be celebrating Shevuot and the giving of the most important laws of today's society, the 10 commandments and they social laws that every society abides by today.

 

Shabbat Shalom to you, Chag Shevuot Sameach and loads of love in your life, through friends, family and just people who pass by

 

With love from beautiful Jerusalem

Sheila