Mourning Maccabiah and Music

 220729

29^th July 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom! I hope this missive finds you well. Chodesh Tov, happy new month.

 

Today is the first day of the Hebrew month of Av and we are in the middle of the three weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple thousands of years ago. The final day of mourning, the 9^th of the month of Av, is a day of fasting but not only – it is a day in which we need to ask ourselves what led to the destruction of the Temple and recognise that yet again, today, our level of tolerance of anyone with views that differ from our own is at a horrific low. The fact that we understand the importance of the past in forming our future, irrespective of what or which religion we choose to follow, proof positive that we are all responsible for learning from whence we came.

 

The lesson learned is multi-faceted but above all other causes of the destruction is that most negative of emotions "sinat chinam" unwarranted hatred, to hate without cause or reason. We've all done it, hopefully in the past but each religion has its dark secrets. Perhaps as a reaction, many have lost their direction in the need to change. It's a fascinating subject for discussion, not argument and when in doubt I always turn to my friend and mentor Rabbi Jeremy Rosen to give a well thought out, intellectual but deeply religious point of view. https://jeremyrosen.com/2022/07/universalism.html

 

The news that the Russians are considering closing down all Jewish Agency activities in Russia is extremely disturbing. Strangely enough, I am not sure that the reason is in any way anti-Semitic or anti-Israel but rather that the work to bring Russian Jews to Israel has caused a huge brain drain as indeed it did during the big Aliya from 1990 onwards. During that period and the turn of the century many Russian scientists and doctors came home to Israel bringing their vast knowledge with them, conceivably the biggest brain drain of recent times. The bringing home of Russian Jewry, something many of us had fought for and demonstrated for was incredibly positive for Israel, but very negative for the Russians.

The Jewish Agency (JAFI) has taken the issue to the Russian courts and it is currently in debate

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-713392 

 

Is Israel an “apartheid state,” as its enemies claim? We all know about BDS but there are far more subtle and dangerous calumnies, there are even Members of Congress and the European Union who proclaim Israeli apartheid. Who better to answer that charge than a Black South African who lived through apartheid? Kenneth Meshoe, a member of the South African parliament, fits that bill. He examines the evidence against Israel and draws a compelling conclusion. As you have heard me say not only is the claim and downright lie, not only do all faiths and creeds have complete freedom in Israel but to claim what we have is apartheid is to diminish the horror of the real Apartheid of South Africa Please, listen to Kenneth Meshoe, he knows what he is talking about

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcEL-NlxBk0

 

I was so happy to hear about recent bar and bat Mitzvas at the Egalitarian area of the Western Wall. While the out of the ordinary always reaches the news the normal, the regular, the joyous, the tolerant rarely does, so here I am talking about it!

 

Sheli Silver, despite her surname, isn't a blood relation but she is quite definitely a member of our family! Sheli, her brother Tomer and their parents Ira and Valeri are real Israelis and have been from the moment that Ira and Valeri arrived in Israel, just one year after my own Aliya and if you ask either of their wonderful children what their identity is, without any doubt the answer will be Israelis, pure and simple. Sheli is coming to the end of her service in the IDF after a highly successful term of service in the IDF Education and Youth Corps https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_and_Youth_Corps teaching young people who would otherwise not be called up. They receive education which increases their motivation, morale and sense of identity and teamwork. This week Sheli took her "Pluga" her regiment to the Kotel for their swearing in ceremony, obviously watched by her proud parents. I am often asked what is the difference between our young people and those in the Diaspora and it comes down to taking responsibility both as an individual and as a team, being aware of those around you, because your life depends on it – and theirs – and learning who you are. When a young Israeli gets to University he/she already knows who and what they are. Innovation and initiative are the watchwords and the results in Hi-Tech are obvious but it is true in every sphere of their lives. They grow up with a sense of responsibility to the "clal" not only to themselves.

 

Yes, you heard it right, we are off to yet another round of elections! It drives me crazy that the profligate waste of money, money that we can ill afford, will be spent on incessant Party political broadcasts, constantly trying to convince us to change our votes, the creation of new parties, as if we don't have enough already, the mud slinging and altered alliances and in the meantime we already know that none of the myriad of parties will achieve a majority to form a stable government and so the coalition negotiations begin and we get ourselves ready for the 6^th round of elections which will follow in short order. I was so confident in the short lifetime of the most recent government because I felt that every sector was represented, albeit under several different names of parties but unexpected and clever alliances were made until they weren't. Those in that government understood compromise for the better of the whole, they represented me, my beliefs and the hope for a tolerant society.

 

Tolerance is not a political statement, it is a way to raise one's children and to change our angry world into one in which understand those different to us is a basic element. At least I get huge satisfaction from knowing that Impact-se is living up to its name and having a huge impact on the issue of tolerance in education. Do check out our website and see that so many nations in the MENA region understand that teaching hatred (be it from the far left, far right or mistaken theology) is child abuse. www.impact-se.org   

 

Zvi and I went to the Jerusalem Municipality yet again this week, the bureaucracy of selling our old apartment drags on and on despite the fact that both the new owner and we have already moved on with our lives. I know, that's a common complaint wherever you live. In fact we walked in, took our number and were surprised to see some 60 available clerks, each in their little numbered booth, and about 20 of them available to the public. Both clients and clerks were of every conceivable sector of the Jerusalem rainbow. My only complaint was that although they were there it was basically to tell everyone that the million forms had to be filled on line!

 

The Maccabiah is over! It was a resounding success, from the entry of the teams, country by country, into the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, to a myriad of sports events all over Israel, and a great sense of pride that the participants were part of the second largest sports event in the world, each representing the Jewish community in their home country. For Zvi and I the highlight was the camaraderie of seeing old friends from every corner of the world and then the "Ne'ila" the closing ceremony. Why was it so special for us? because we took four amazing girls, aged 15 to 11, our granddaughters who danced, yelled, sang and thoroughly enjoyed the glittering young stars of the Israeli entertainment industry. It was spectacular! Three of the girls went down close to the stage and were in a state of ecstasy that they actually touched the stage that Noa Kirel danced on!!

 

Of course there is so much more to the Maccabiah than sport and spectaculars. Our friend Ceci Bayon brought her grandchildren, who were taking part, and 'did" Jerusalem from top to bottom, not missing a single sight or site! She is not alone, many used the opportunity to really show their children or grandchildren what Israel really is.

 

The work that goes into every Maccabiah, all done in relatively small offices without huge committees like the Olympics, is phenomenal. Imagine coordinating 10,000 participants from 62 countries!

We haven't been entertaining as much as usual, but last night was fun! A group of friends, Zvi's singing partners in his Ensemble, came with spouses and we just sat around, ate and laughed. I already decided to go with a light supper because even at night the veranda is hot, not with the ghastly humidity of Tel Aviv but hot. Quiches, salads, apple cake and ice cream while everyone admired the "garden". The little lemon tree is laden with tiny green fruits and is even blossoming again! The kumquats await Martin, the limes await a G&T with friends, the Passiflora is producing still green fruits, the scent of the basilicum wafts over us all and the herb garden is producing daily service. I could wax lyrical about the flowers but then you would not believe that anywhere could be so perfect!!

 

When I choose music for you I try to bring appropriate, amusing, typically Israeli and often familiar music. This time you will get something entirely different!! This singer decided to take everything Israel, what we do, say, eat and think and put it all into one song!! Sadly there is no translation as far as I know, but I loved it. See how many words you can identify. I'll give you a clue Bamba (that very Israeli peanut snack) appears regularly. https://youtu.be/sMEyfEoKQr0   Wait, I found one with subtitles but I'm leaving the original too because I like it!! https://youtu.be/htATSTUFwAY

 

Free Love didn't begin in the 60's, it also had very different connotations but Moses's brother Aaron, my ancestor, advocated loving one's brother, sister, neighbour. This song talks of love, of Ahavat Chinam, of loving each other, no matter how different was are. It's all about tolerance, accepting each other with, not despite, our differences. This song is from the religious aspect but it applies to all of us. If Sinat Chinam (hatred) brought down the Holy Temple than surely Ahavat Chinam can rebuild the Temple of our relationship with each other. https://youtu.be/3Uga678kXLU I hope the subtitles (CC) work

 

As they used to say in Monty Python "And now for something entirely different" Noa Kirel is a highly talented, amazing young Israeli who is becoming an international success. She is  beautiful, healthy not anorexic, has a great voice and is an outstanding dancer – and she will represent Israel in the Eurovision next year. Our granddaughters are completely besotted with her! This song has no relationship to Israel or Judaism except that this young woman is proud to be Israeli, accepted her conscription to the IDF with grace and – well decide for yourselves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFFadDDjNKo

 

I wish you a wonderful weekend, a peaceful Shabbat, one in which you are surrounded by loved ones, whether relations or those you choose to be with.

 

Jerusalem awaits you, still beautiful, spiritual and the centre of our world.

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

Saudi Arabia, Maccabiah and Sari

 22^nd July 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom everyone, especially all the participants of the 22^nd Maccabiah!

 

Last week I promised you the video of the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah, always spectacular and particularly so this year. Since I don't expect you to sit through the hour and a half of the original ceremony here is a short version – the highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K43DB0IZ-A

 

The first Maccabiah in 1932 was a direct response of the refusal of the International Olympic Committee to allow Jews to take part in the Olympics as a separate entity.  In 1928 Yosef Yekutieli presented his Jewish Olympics proposal to Menachem Ussishkin, the Chairman of the executive committee of the JNF. This required the approval of the British Mandate and in the autumn of 1931 the British High Commissioner Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, who expressed great admiration for Zionist Palestine as well as the Jewish sports movement in general, approved the Maccabiah.  The 1st Maccabiah opened on March 28, 1932. The Games were nicknamed "White Horse Olympics" because Tel Aviv's Mayor Meir Dizengoff led a parade honouring the participants in the first Maccabiah Games by riding a white horse through the city streets. During the first Maccabiah 390 sportsmen took part from 18 countries. This Maccabiah Games hosts approximately 10,000 athletes, from 80 countries, competing in 47 sports categories. 

 

Meeting and greeting old friends, watching the most deserving receive awards, was very special. The most disturbing part of Maccabi World Union events is that the men are so tall! Can you imagine watching Zvi, all 1:97 of him, looking regular height when he talked to friends! Usually when I look for him in a crowd it's easy, but in this crowd he disappeared into a sea of tall people!

 

This is a truly wonderful meeting place for Jewish youngsters from all over the world, especially those who live in tiny communities. In the olden days everyone thought that to be Jewish you had to be short, pasty faced, studious and as far from sport as possible should see the wonderful sportsmen of today. Incidentally, this is where Mark Spitz began his career.

 

Criticism of the Biden visit to Saudi Arabia as unnecessary or unwise is unfair. Firstly one does not make peace with ones friends but rather with one's enemies, but in fact, despite popular opinion, Saudi Arabia is not an enemy. One needs to know what happens under the surface not simply accept populist media. For instance, Saudi Arabia and Israel have been in "under the radar" talks for over 20 years that I know of and they approached Impact-se to improve the tolerance in their education https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-710756

 

I'm tired of the reports of Israeli "occupation". While doing research into countries that have undergone partition in Wikipedia, I found many over recent years, all of which had simple explanations, only one mentioned occupation, guess which? There was an addendum that the proposed partition of Mandate Palestine floundered and the land was occupies by Israel, Egypt and TransJordan. What are the other countries? India and Pakistan, later into Pakistan and Bangladesh; Punjab, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Cyprus, Serbia and Sudan into Moslem North Sudan and Christian South Sudan – and that is just in the last  80 years. Yet again we are singled out and it isn't difficult to understand the underlying truth of this uncomfortable choice on the part of the world, both media and politicians. In the words of Tevye the Milkman "Lord I know we are the chosen people, but for once can't you choose someone else"?

 

If I may, I want to return to the subject of Saudi Arabia. If you stand on the beach in Eilat and look along the coast on a clear day, just 18 kilometres away is Saudi Arabia! Did you know that there is a Rabbi there?  A Rabbi who has a community and is fully accepted by the Royal Family? His name is Rabbi Yaacov Herzog, an American Israeli. One can buy kosher food in Saudi Arabia and 4.4% of the population of Saudi Arabia is Christian although neither Jews nor Christians can become citizens as long as they do not proselytise (on threat of death) they can live in relative freedom. I still remember when, about 15 or so years ago I found the visa application website for Saudi Arabia which banned Jewish application. Things are changing throughout the MENA region and the glue is fear and hatred of Iran.

 

Israeli journalist Gil Tamari went to Saudi Arabia to report on the Biden visit and chose to go to Mecca, despite big signs saying non-Moslems are not allowed and took several selfies in places that are banned. Luckily he was not arrested but his stupidity has caused a tsunami of criticism here in Israel.

 

Defence Minister of Israel Benny, Benjamin Gantz, was interviewed at the Aspen Security Forum and he impressed me as always. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Sg-rWMZ2s&t=2s

 

We won a bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon!

Lunah Chemtai Salpeter a marathon runner, originally came to Israel in 2009 to care for the children of her country’s ambassador and eventually married running coach Dan Salpeter. To see her smiling face as she wrapped herself in the Israeli flag brought us so much pride. A very special lady. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonah_Chemtai_Salpeter

 

This week, mostly due to the Maccabi events, we have been on the road to Tel Aviv almost every day. One very special event, nothing to do with the Maccabiah, held by a very special couple took us to Papagio in the Herzliya marina. Barry and Cristine Slawsky with their gorgeous son James (Haim Elimelech) invited their close friends for a farewell dinner as they and their lovely friends Melissa and Paul, return to their native Canada. Barry is not a Luddite although he is probably the closest thing to it without the negative implications! Barry creates wonderful itineraries for travel, keeps the necessary phone numbers and hotel addresses all on what we call Barry's iPad, a wad of tiny notes, carefully stuffed into his pocket. Incredibly it really works! Barry is conceivably the kindest, most generous quirky man on the planet! The food was amazing, the company delightful and the journey back to Motza easy.

 

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, well not really it was 07:30, Sari Singer got on the number 480 bus to Jerusalem, getting off at the Hemed Interchange. At exactly 08:00 I left Motza toward Hemed and found Sari already standing at the bus stop, waving happily! We came home for a few minutes so that she could see where we live, then headed off for Shalva where the lovely Alex gave us the tour, culminating in Dr. Dan's Room. It's really difficult to express the sheer joy of Shalva, the butterflies mobile above one's head as you walk into the huge lobby, the incredibly beautiful expressions painted on the walls, the joy of the children. It was admittedly quiet because most of the activities take place afternoons, but Sari, who knew Daniel, was so thrilled by the studio, as I knew she would be. I was so happy she was there I forgot to take photos! We had a snack in the restaurant then headed back home, but both decided on a detour. Where to? You guessed, to see my Rachel! Rachel and Sari just love each other and although it was out of the way, it was such a joy to sit in Rachel's kitchen with the wonderful aromas of her cooking before heading home where Sari and I talked of memories and Zvi explained the history of where we live.

 

The President's Avenue of trees right underneath our veranda, the pill box which once protected the road to Jerusalem, right beneath our building, the original Sanitorium of the Histadrut, the Israeli Union, and the original "yishuv" or settlement of Motza, establish in 1870 in the Jerusalem  Hills with a synagogue built on the ruins of a  Crusader structure. All within a few minutes of our home – that's life in Israel, everything is new but the land itself has the history of thousands of years. The excavations of Tel Motza have revealed a huge temple and settlement dating from the 9^th century BCE.

 

A few hours before we passed through Ramot on our way to Givat Ze'ev, a stabbing attack took place on a bus from Givat Ze'ev to Jerusalem, right next to the shopping mall in Ramot. The bus driver was injured and the terrorist was stopped by a passer by. Incredibly both will be treated with equal medical attention in Israel. The attacker told the police that he just wanted to die but suicide was not an option in Islam so he decided to be a Jihadi.

 

The last Tel Aviv trip was the Award Ceremony of Yakir Maccabi for those who have devoted their lives to Maccabi Hearing the names called out, both of the recipients and the presenters, and their curriculum vitae of inspiring young people, bringing young people to Israel and encouraging youngsters with special needs to enter sport was inspiring, these are good people who deserve every congratulations. I'm not going to start giving you names but those I specially loved know exactly who you are!!!

 

And so to Shabbat. As I have explained, each Shabbat we read a parasha, a portion, of the Torah. This Shabbat we read about Pinchas who is Aaron's grandson and therefore my ancestor – really! Since my family, as Cohanim - priests, descends from Aaron until today, if I had time I could trace my family back to Moses' brother! Anyway back to Pinchas which explains how Aaron's grandson was granted the covenant of the priesthood and goes on to describe how the 601,730 men between the ages of 20 and 60 should be divided into tribes according to male descendants. However one gentleman by the names of Tzelafchad had five daughters and no sons and by the new regulations they would not be eligible to inherit their portion of land so when he passed away they petitioned Moses who incorporated them onto the laws of inheritance. Moses then empowered Joshua to succeed him to lead the Children of Israel into the Land of Israel. Fascinating and intricate, well worth reading.

 

After that explanation only one song is suitable to start our trilogy of music!

 

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho which contains the names of several men in my family!

You may talk about the men of Gideon
You may talk about the men of Saul
But there's none like the good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho

The late great Mahalia Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHFGRI51yDg

 

When Israeli poet and lyricist, Naomi Shemer heard the Beatles song Let It Be she loved the message and she wrote Lu Yehi in Hebrew. Sung by Chava Alberstein you will see photos of young people in the IDF and our prayer for them is that in the future our enemies will accept our existence and these youngsters can go to university, get jobs and have families like all the other young people in the world – Lu Yehi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfMoeK6UVB0

 

Al kol eleh, also known as Of the Honey and the Sting is Sari Singer's favourite song! So here it is with all my love to Sari and to all of you. Remember that ife is both bitter and sweet and it's up to us to find the sweet and keep it in our hearts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkbRGsLrt2I  The words are exceptional, lyrics such as only Noami Shemer could write and I suggest you read them as you hear the music. http://hebrewsongs.com/song-alkoleleh-bikel.htm

 

And so dear friends, that's it for this week. I wish you a glorious weekend, a truly beautiful Shabbat. After all, having planned the menu, our guests cannot come to us tomorrow, so Zvi and I will relax, see our lovely neighbours and enjoy Shabbat just the two of us!

 

With love from beautiful Jerusalem.

Sheila

 

 

 

Presidents, Purpose and Athletes

 15^th July, 2022

16^th Tammuz 5782

 

Shabbat Shalom world!

 

A truly incredible week which began with the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency, continued with the visit of President Biden, the arrival of friends from all over the world for the Maccabiah Games and finally showing Tel Aviv and the sea to our dear friend Kim Taylor on his 60^th visit to Israel. Every prior visit was spent in Jerusalem!

 

I'll try to describe each of the above because each in its own way was exceptional.

 

The Jewish Agency for Israel was established on August 11^th 1929 and for its first 19 years it was, to all intents and purposes, the government of Israel. Formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine,^[5] is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. It was established in 1929 as the operative branch of the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The stated mission of the Agency is to "ensure that every Jewish person feels an unbreakable bond to one another and to Israel no matter where they live in the world, so that they can continue to play their critical role in our ongoing Jewish story. Indeed David Ben Gurion was its Chairman of the Board from 1935 and in that position declared the establishment of the State of Israel. In recent years the Jewish Agency has facilitated the "Aliya" of over 3 million Jews or those of Jewish descent in particular those whose very Jewish identity put them in danger. Once in Israel the Agency provides housing, education, the learning of Hebrew a process described as absorption – absorption into Israeli society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Agency_for_Israel

 

OK so now you know the purpose of the Jewish Agency so let me describe one of the plenum sessions. We sat at a large round table for 10 people, 3 or 4 of those at the table were young emissaries, about to go out into the world to help young people understand the real Israel. We talked and listened, got to know why youngsters would give up a year of their lives to travel to communities unknown, a truly diverse and amazing group. Then we were asked to take a piece of paper and divide it into 4 sections with our name in the middle and draw, our favourite books, what we think worth demonstrating for, a map of Israel and a boat representing the Jewish people, but a boat with a hole in it! I still like my drawing of a small boat, a few people drowning, some trying to save them and others just giving up. As I said to the young people at our table "This represents the state of the Jewish people and you are the ones who will plug the hole in our leaky boat"

 

President Biden's visit has been a resounding success. It began with a ceremony at the airport, celebrating the warmth of our relationship with this President and with the USA. On a personal level I was very moved when Prime Minister Lapid insisted that his predecessor, Naftali Bennett, be present. When told that it was against protocol he said "I am rewriting the protocol he deserves to be here"

 

Of course, every road and highway on the way to, in the centre of and around Jerusalem was closed to traffic. Indeed that's how Kim Taylor got to see Tel Aviv, we escaped early because otherwise we couldn't have reached the airport for him to go home! The first stop for the President was Yad Vashem (the exceptional memorial to the 6,000,000 who perished and those who survived the Holocaust), as every dignitary and leader does on arrival in Israel. Two beautiful ladies, survivors, were invited to the ceremony but told not to engage the President in conversation. After the formalities were over the President went over to the ladies, bent down and spoke to them with tears in his eyes, held their hands and kissed them. This was Joseph Biden whose father had drummed into him respect and love for Holocaust Survivors https://youtu.be/GjQDpBIWGiQ

 

This was a different Presidential visit, I would go so far as to say exceptional. Obviously the topic most discussed was Iran and both leaders basically agreed that Iran was dangerous, that something must be done and PM Lapid emphasised that if necessary Israel would put a credible military action on the table, but President Biden reiterated American policy that although recognising that military action may be essential he will always prefer diplomacy. He stressed time and again his determination that Israel has the right to self-determination and safety and this time, unlike most former Presidents, I felt that he really meant it, he was not giving lip service to gain votes. Most impressive of all was our brand new Prime Minister Yair Lapid. He did not kowtow, stood firm ground on Israel's security and rights, but behaved with great dignity and respect.

 

Yesterday President Biden received the Medal of Honour from our President, the wonderful Isaac (Bougie) Herzog in a ceremony at the President's home. After the short ceremony Israeli singers Yuval Dayan and Ran Danker sang Lu Yehi/Let It Be to the delight of the President. Isaac Herzog sang along. https://youtu.be/GSjyo6qDau8

 

The President's final visit was the cause of a flurry of activity in the offices of Kfar Maccabiah (Maccabi Village) since after four years of preparation, initiation, organisation the American President decided he would love to come and visit the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games to be held in Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem! I watched on television and Zvi, with our dear friend Caryn Adlelman beside him, sat in the VIP section for Maccabi Members, not realising that they were just two metres from the President! Anyway, the President came in very informally and asked to meet a large group of Team USA athletes, encouraging them and asking for a Maccabi USA hat, even singing Happy Birthday to one team member!

 

The opening ceremony was phenomenal! Here's a video of the entire ceremony and the moment that President Biden stands before the crowd with President Herzog and PM Lapid is at about 45 minutes into the video. I love watching the teams walk into the stadium, so proud, having so much fun. When one thinks about it, this Jewish Olympic Games is conceivably the greatest victory of the Jewish people over adversity. Over 10,000 athletes from nearly 80 countries are here in Israel right now!

 

Bravo Team Maccabiah – especially our friends the ever patient Ilana Ben Namer and of course the wonderful Roy Hessing.

 

The President visits the Augusta Victoria Hospital, situated between the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives. This visit is fraught diplomatic tension since the Biden advisors have refused to accept Israelis with the President on this visit. Is this a return to "corpus separatum"?  Are the Presidential advisors suggesting that the Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is again questioned?

 

On a lighter note, I have to tell you how Augusta Victoria came about! Kaiser Bill 2 came to Jerusalem and wanted to go throughout the Old City in his carriage. The ancient Jaffa Gate was too narrow to allow a carriage to pass through, so Kaiser Bill demanded it be broken to widen it. Of course his demand was denied unless he built a much needed hospital in Jerusalem. He promised, Jaffa Gate was widened, he took his carriage into the Old City and the Hospital, opened in 1910, was name for his wife Augusta Victoria. From there he went the few kilometres to Bethlehem where he was to meet Mahmoud Abbas then on to his historic meeting in Saudi Arabia. Interestingly enough, Abbas wanted to meet Biden in Saudi Arabia but his request was rejected. I was really pleased to see the President greet Salaam Fayyad with great warmth. Salaam Fayyad tried to build a feasible administration in the PA when he was PM but he was summarily thrown out by Abbas.

 

So this week has been incredibly busy for Israel rather than just for the Ravivs!  Friday night dinner with the Raviv clan which is always great then on Saturday lunchtime we went to meet our lovely friends Roselyn and Michael Freeman. We will always be grateful to Helene and Martin Lindenfeld for introducing us to this lovely couple who are so interesting that instead of heading off to the Old City to meet his friends Kim stayed with us and a good time was had by all, the conversation covering Israeli history, family history, traditions and Jewish continuity.

 

Ellie and Pablo Nankin have brought their children and grandchildren up to love Israel. Although he grew up in Mexico he has lived in LA for many many years. Ellie and Pablo brought their entire family to Israel to celebrate their granddaughter Taylor's Bat Mitzva and we had the honour of being invited to join them for lunch in the centre of Jerusalem, in Piccolino on Yoel Solomon Street. It was a wonderfully noisy, happy, joyous occasion and I have to congratulate Ellie and Pablo for doing a wonderful job!

 

I can't remember which day Ilana and Eddie and Jessie Podolsky came to visit but I know that it was wonderful. They are proof positive that one can live in the Diaspora yet be aware of everything that happens here and care deeply. Ilana is the daughter of Zvi's cousins Billy and Ruth Shapiro in Mexico City and Eddie is the son of old friends also from Mexico. Zvi is 100% Israeli – actually his birth certificate says he is Palestinian – but his heart lies also in the 5 years he spent in Mexico City when his parents were teachers in the Jewish school. In fact, an entire generation of the Mexican Jewish Community speak excellent Hebrew thanks to Kalman and Alla Raviv. Given half a chance Zvi speaks Spanish and sings Mexican songs – in fact he is probably one of the only students who can still remember every word of the school's anthem, which is really long!

 

I almost forgot, on Tuesday evening Zvi, Kim and I decided to go out for dinner to a lovely super-duper dairy restaurant right near us. Rachel and Yosef took Ayala to a pop concert right near us so we asked them to join us and then our friends Ronit and Yossi called to say that they would also join our table. That's the difference between Israel and elsewhere. I booked a table for 3 in an utterly crowded restaurant, we were joined by two more so they added chairs then another two so they simply added another table to ours, all done with a smile. I spoke to the owner of Pop Up Café, who also happens to be the owner of another 4 restaurants, all kosher, all closed on Shabbat and all of the highest culinary standards. "how did you manage to fit us in?" "You are regular customers and you always smile, so how could I refuse?" there is a joke "When a Frenchman comes for dinner, what does he bring? Wine. When a Brit comes for dinner, what does he bring? Flowers. When an Israeli comes for dinner, what does he bring? A friend of two!" When it comes to hospitality, whether professional of just at home, we are flexible, we love people!

 

By the way, Ayala and her friends had a ball at the concert!

 

So that's it! I didn't write about politics, haven't mentioned that Benny Gantz and Gidon Saar, quite probably with Gadi Eizenkot, will form one party instead of two. Funny, another interesting aspect of Israeli politics, former Chiefs of Staff tend to be somewhere between soft right and very pragmatic.

 

So what music befits an American President and a new Prime Minister?

 

A Revolution of Joy with Koolulam of course! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fBM6a3Gzh0

 

Each morning as we wake up we say a prayer/blessing before doing anything else. Modeh ani- I am grateful. We thank God for waking up, for returning our soul. Here Omer Adam sings beautifully. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npRw36_Ftmc

 

The talks with the American President, indeed our every breath, our every thought, our every being is Jerusalem, without Jerusalem Israel has no reason to be. Jerusalem is the heart of Judaism and of Israel. So what song? Yerushalyim Shel Zahav – Jerusalem of Gold, sung by the Shalva Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8HtAOQhyYg

 

Have a beautiful Shabbat, a peaceful weekend.

With much love from Jerusalem. Farewell President Biden, you were the perfect guest.

Sheila

 

 

 

Resignations, Racism and Rabbis

 The 8^th of July 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Today is one of the three most important days of my life. It happened exactly 50 years ago, at a few minutes past midnight, in the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, Berkshire (pronounced redding barkshir) when the most beautiful baby boy ever was born. A baby boy who laughed out loud at just a few weeks! Happy birthday Gideon Saul! So proud of everything you are, what you have become and your truly exceptional family.

 

Sadly the world is not nearly as beautiful as my son and it is my responsibility to write about it so let's get that part out of the way and I'll tell you about some wonderful news.

 

Prime Ministers seem to be dropping like flies! First Naftali Bennett stepped down after the resignation of some Ministers threatened his government. It was done with great elegance and the current Prime Minister Yair Lapid slipped into the role he had been preparing for his whole life. Now Boris Johnson has resigned, admittedly under a very large thunder cloud, rejected by his own party, the Conservative Party, a misnomer if ever there was one! And Britain, the country that so loves eccentricity, decided that there is eccentric and there is Boris! Both PMs, for whatever reason resigned rather than create turmoil and political unrest, and they did not fear losing their immunity from prosecution as with our former Prime Minister.

 

Highland Park is a beautiful suburb of Chicago with a high Jewish population. The traditional 4^th of July Parade was at its height when a shooter, a killer opened fire changing the lives of all who saw it, all who heard it, all who lost someone, the injured and the dead. The killer, whose name I choose not to mention, had entered a Habad synagogue just weeks previously and after acting very strangely the Rabbi threw him out. It wasn't reported to the police. Yet again an insane racist had easy access to weapons! When will a country that is the world leader of the 21^st century stop believing that it is still living in the Wild West? As Bob Dylan wrote "The answer is blowin' in the wind" I send love and condolences to all my friends who live in Highland Park, indeed to everyone in Highland Park.

 

Intolerance abounds, no country, no people seem immune, perhaps as the late Rabbi Kopul Rosen said, "Antisemitism (and racism) is like pornography. Everyone knows it exists yet it is never mentioned in polite society". Rabbi Jeremy Rosen searched and found a discussion on the BBC based around the Eichmann trial. The language is stilted but the manner of civilized debate, as opposed to the wrangling and lack of respect of today's arguments, is refreshing. One comment sticks in my mind, when the presenter asked Rabbi Rosen if he thought that Eichmann should hang he responded that no, he should not, for the fear that the world would believe that the crimes of Hitler gone to trial and was over. Rabbi Rosen was 47 years old at the time of the debate and he died just a year later leaving a fantastic legacy of 3 Rabbis, his sons Jeremy, Mickey z"l and David, whose purpose in life is to change our world for the better. Please, this is one link that you really should open. https://jeremyrosen.com/2022/07/kopul-rosen-and-the-eichmann-trial.html

 

I first met the wonderful Brenda Katten when I was working in Hillel House in Euston, London. I was immediately struck by her elegant logic and her ability to reach the crux of any matter without frills and prevarication. This week she wrote in the Jerusalem Post "Who Cares About Us" writing about the plight of the ordinary, centrist, traditionally Jewish Israelis who always seem to get left behind in the decision making. "The problem begins and ends with our electoral system. The minority dictates and decides for the majority, often resulting in a government unable to complete its four year term. " It is a problem here in Israel and in different ways all over the world. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/who-cares-about-us-515572

 

President Biden will come to Israel and the PA starting on Wednesday, which to Jerusalemites means that the entire city comes to a standstill except for official vehicles and police! It is part of living here that when any American leader comes to visit the King David is cleared of it guests, hopefully finding a room elsewhere, the Presidential entourage moves in and the entire centre of the city, well you can imagine! The visit is important, obviously not his first, as I told you I still remember his enthusiasm for Zvi's recounting of Jerusalem history and friendliness to all the other members of the group. I wonder if this visit will bring back sweet memories, now that he is President and not bound by the constrictions of a Vice-President. I heard voices of dissent that he is visiting the PA too, but I see that as more important in so many ways, than his delightful visit to Jerusalem. Here the American flags will fly together with the Israeli flag on the entire route from the airport, into Jerusalem and around the areas that the Presidential cavalcade will visit, it's a given that he will be well received, but hopefully his talks with Abbas will be more "tachlis" more to the point. I know that Impact-se has briefed his staff on the lack of cooperation in removing hatred from his schoolbooks; they will discuss the danger of new elections because Hamas will almost certainly win – in the Middle East the devil you know is always preferable; they will most certainly discuss the recent rise in terror attacks and hopefully will come to a compromise. A compromise means the USA doling out more money, which of course won't reach the people, but that's the way things work in the real world.

 

Hey Michael Poppers, I'm about to use that word again SEGUE. After all I know that Segway is what the more adventurous tourists ride around Jerusalem on!! Segue to what you may ask! President Biden's next stop will be Saudi Arabia. Perhaps the most theocratic society of all the countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is reaching out to the West and has taken the huge step of changing their schoolbooks, with the assistance of Impact-se. We kept it very quiet for some time but now it is out in the open, the Saudis, along with Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco and of course the Emirates (where little change was needed) are moving toward a more moderate path and the historic visit of an American President to Saudi Arabia is a direct result of two things – the Abraham Accords and a common fear of Iran. Never underestimate the power of fear to draw countries together. "The enemy of my enemy is my ally"

 

The only problem with the timing of the Presidential visit is that the four days leading up to his arrival  have been declared Eid Al-Adkha Mubarak, the Festival of the Victim, by the Palestinian Authority. All banks, shops, schools and government offices in the PA are closed giving opportunity to outbursts on the streets. Put that together with the public outcry over the death of Shireen Abu Akhle and it may be difficult here. Undoubtedly all border crossings will be closed. Just as a sidebar, 175 terror attacks were prevented by the Israeli Police and Secret Service – in a large part in cooperation with the PA police.

 

In direct contrast to the venom of Erdogan, Israel and Turkey have made huge steps toward bilateral cooperation, be it economic or the new Bilateral Aviation Agreement. Political rhetoric often bears no resemblance to the facts on the ground.

 

We tend to forget that politicians are just people, people whose differences don't necessarily extend beyond the Knesset plenum. Merav Michaeli is left wing, secular in the extreme leader of the Labour Party and Moshe Gafni is a particularly vociferous Haredi Member of Knesset yet when Gafni's daughter got married, Michaeli danced with clear joy despite the strict separation of women and men. The lesson is clear. Just because your opinions differ, even diametrically opposed, does not discount the possibility of friendship. We have this dreadful habit of verbal diatribe against anyone who does not think as we do and it's time to stop. I don't care if it comes from the left or right, secular or religious, Christian or Jew – or Moslem – we can all learn from thoughts and ideas that are not in sync with our own.

 

The week started with Friday Night Dinner, at home of course. Our delightful visitors where Barry and Cristine Slawsky with their beautiful son James (Haim Elimelech) and their friends Paul and Melissa Passuto, their delight at the blessings over the wine and challah were only superseded by our mutual religious curiosity and their plans to see everything that it was possible to see and our making lists of priorities! One thing was clear, apart from the fact that we have made new, firm friends, they intend coming back soon and bringing a group of friends with them!

  

The next paragraph will be very hard to write, a mixture of grief and closure, the completion of Dr. Dan's Room in Shalva. It was a simple ceremony, none of us wanted a flamboyant, un-Daniel, ceremony and thanks to all the Shalva team we honoured my beautiful son in the most appropriate way. As close friends and family came in to the studio and raved about its beauty and practicality my heart filled with their love. I was nervous, I write, I'm not a public speaker, but the nerves dissipated the moment that four little girls, aged about 8, all with Down's Syndrome, came shyly into the room holding on to the hands of their young volunteers. The room went silent and to the screened background of a play put on by other special needs children about the story of Abraham and Sarah, they began to dance. At that moment I knew that the decision was the right one, these little girls are exactly what the studio for the performing arts in Shalva will give opportunities for confidence building through music, drama and dance. We now need to encourage Miriam's dream of dance troupes, acting plays, wheelchair dancing all made possible by Daniel's Room. The name of my son, our son, brother, father, husband, friend, who cared so deeply for all young people, a highly respected and loved paediatrician, lives on through these incredible children and Malki and Kalman Samuels dream of inclusion that is Shalva. To see and hear the ceremony please click on this link, fast forward to 22 minutes and you can watch https://youtu.be/FSwJlg_l0uM

 

Our wonderful friend Kim (Dr Kimball Taylor) arrives today to attend the JAFI (Jewish Agency) meetings and of course to be with us! Tonight he will join the Raviv clan for Friday night dinner on our veranda, happily singing the blessings along with Zvi and all of us. What's odd about that I hear you ask, well Kim is a devout Mormon, a senior member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and a wonderful friend of Israel, indeed the only non-Jew invited to be part of the JAFI meetings. I love the traditions of Friday night, the lighting of the candles which not only welcome the bride of Shabbat but shed light on the world, the glow of hope. The table, always laden with the goodies of our dispersion, from gefilte fish to matbucha, from pickled cucumbers to spicy ratatouille and about 10 salads because once I get cooking I forget to stop! As everyone sits down, we begin to sing a song of welcome to Shabbat, Shalom Aleinu, may peace be upon us, the children singing with us, even the teenagers who do so with a sigh. Then Zvi's wonderful Kiddush, the blessing over the wine and the children then decide who makes the blessing over the bread, the challah. Once the ceremonies are over the soup comes out, piping hot and I relax. I have a deal with Zvi's boys, they and their wives work terribly hard so I don't want them to bring food, I am happy to gradually prepare it all, but then they take over and serve and clear up with wonderful efficiency. They all bring the dishes in from the veranda, Leor stacks everything in the dishwasher, like soldiers exactly as I do, and they leave the kitchen pristine. Of course I expect everyone to compliment the flowers that surround the table.

 

Tomorrow we will meet up with our friends Roselyn and Michael Freeman who are here with Rachel Heisler and the Soroka Hospital mission. We met Roselyn, Michael and Rachel through Martin and Helene Lindenfeld who are not coming this time but have given us the opportunity to enjoy their friends and family!

 

This week it was my big sister Eddie and her husband Ray's 65^th wedding anniversary, I was a bridesmaid and can still remember Eddie's glorious dress; Jennifer and Brian Bell's 57^th Anniversary (we decided that they will celebrate their Diamond Wedding on our veranda PG) and yes I was at their wedding, and of course my incredible, brilliant and loved son Gideon's 50^th birthday – no need to tell you I was there too. Mazal tov to all. Ad 120

 

This song, this video expresses everything about Shabbat Traditions, the open house and welcome to strangers to come and join the Shabbat table, the acceptance of every shade of Jew and the sheer joy of Shabbat. Gad Elbaz and Shabbes https://youtu.be/3j-7Z74u9uM

 

Last night we were at a wonderful concert by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, our affinity to Shalva and the quest for a more peaceful world led to only one song, even though I have played it before. The Shalva Band, Tariq Al Menhari and Arqam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbc7PL8VZ8

 

This song by Yaakov Shwekey empitomises what we hope for in Dr. Dan's Room, what Daniel believed in every child who came under his care. Each child is special, some with special needs, but each and every one of them has the potential to be happy. I Can Be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3nF2KHmQ60

 

May this Shabbat be special for you, when you pray, in whatever language or direction you face, pray for greater understanding, for greater tolerance, kinder teaching, inclusion and most of all remember to reach out your arms to all who need it.

 

With love from beautiful Jerusalem, King David's City, so beautiful she received 9/10ths of the worlds beauty.

 

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

 

 

Decisons Decision Decisions and song

 220701

1^st of July 2022

2^nd of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, 5782

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 

What a week! Well actually, although Zvi and I had a busy week I was referring to Israel's political week and what I believe to be the outcome. The decision was taken to end the current Knesset session, a hard decision but the only one under the circumstances. Elections will be held on the first of November and only heaven knows what the outcome will be. Several essential laws were not passed or the opposition voted against them, even though several were introduced by Likud, their leader decided it was more important to bring down the government than to pass laws that were important to the people. Yes I know that I am breaking my own rule about expressing my political leanings but this last quarter has been beyond the pale. To call the current government left wing, dangerous to the security of the country for including Arab Members of Knesset, ineffective and incompetent doesn't do anyone any favours especially since they succeeded in passing several issues that the former government hadn't. Finally after 3 years of fiscal confusion we had a budget!

 

Unlike the former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett did the right thing concerning his friend, partner and the Alternate Prime Minister, Yair Lapid. When it came time to hand over the reins to Lapid, Bennett did so with great grace and as of last night Yair Lapid, author, journalist, actor, boxer, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Alternate Prime Minister, hardly a man without experience and certainly a man, a leader, who is pragmatic and capable. In my humble opinion Yair Lapid's greatest advantage is his ability to ask for help, to admit when he needs advice to make the right decision. He will go forward with his Alternate Prime Minister, one Naftali Bennett. There was much humour as they simply changed seats in the Knesset. However, the death threats, ridicule, unfounded accusations are just too much for the Bennett family and Naftali Bennett is considering leaving politics. An independently wealthy man he really doesn't need the personal attacks.

 

While the United States is reeling from the Supreme Court decision reversing Roe versus Wade, Israel is introducing new, less stringent laws on abortion. I understand that the repeal does not mean blanket rejection of the "right to choose" but rather that it is a decision of each individual State. Those protesting the decision constantly talk about Church and State, which in the USA are separate yet in Israel, where religion and state are intertwined; the laws concerning abortion are being reconsidered and relaxed. By Jewish Law, the health of the mother, be it physical or psychological, is of paramount importance and the decision on abortion, albeit after a medical assessment, is based on that precept. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1656340284-israel-to-reform-abortion-process-amid-roe-crisis-in-us

 

In 2020, the Saudi government made significant and wide-ranging changes to its school curriculum after IMPACT-se’s report on the Saudi 2019 curriculum was presented to senior kingdom officials. That IMPACT-se report was highly critical, and listed detailed changes that needed to be made.  In 2021, Saudi textbooks removed or edited dozens of problematic lessons demonizing Jews, Christians, and non-believers, previously itemized in IMPACT-se’s last Saudi textbook report. Many passages on Jihad in a violent context were either removed completely or moderated. Lessons instructing students to write down attempts by “the Jews” to destroy or Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem, as well as that Jewish connections to the Temple Mount are fabricated by rabbis, were removed as well. The full report for 2022 can be found here.  As Chair or the Impact-se Board I must express my admiration for the work of the team, especially Marcus Sheff and Arik Agassi whose relentless determination to bring Tolerance in Education to our region is praiseworthy. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-710756

 

Iran, what can one say about Iran? A violent theocracy that incredibly does not advocate anti-semitism within its own borders, only outside! Their latest threats include bombing London – well it won't be the first time a megalomanic, oppressive regime has done that and the Brits showed true bulldog tenacity through that one; however, and this is a big however, Britain, like so many other western countries, does not have a strong leadership and is unlikely to have strong leadership in the near future, whether Boris Johnson, so wonderfully quirky in a thoroughly British manner, stays or goes. We do not have strong world leadership, so what is the next move with Iran. The original plan of which we know so little was scuppered, partly through a strange, childish, cartoon of a bomb and more probably, because it simply didn't do the job. There are those who say that a partial agreement is better than none but nobody is more experience than Israel on partial agreements – we don't recommend it!  Don't be fooled by the Iranian clerics, they are highly educated, many graduates of Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale, never ever think they are not worldly or brilliant. That is the problem, they cannot be fooled into an agreement that they have not engineered to their demands.

 

That is all just too depressing!

We spent last weekend in Tel Aviv, well actually it all began with a phone call on Friday morning to Zvi's cousins, my friends, Yossi and Rachel Ribak. Rachel hasn't been well lately and since she had a hiatus in her treatments we thought we would go to see them. The conversation between Zvi and Yossi (Zvi's side anyway) went thus "We'd love to see you! Where are you? How lovely! Yes of course we'll have Shabbat dinner with you – yes of course we'll bring it, we don't want Rachel to work" Now please understand, I had prepared the minimum because we were going to be just the two of us in Tel Aviv. Anyway, by the time we left home we had a 3 course dinner, both gluten and lactose free!! It was wonderful to see them and listen to the waves crashing on the shore.

 

The next morning breakfast with friends, Irit and Itzik, Yossi and Fran, tea with Julio and Monika, (after an Israeli breakfast there is no possibility of eating until the evening) and then relaxing at Amiad's home where we were babysitting the children. The next morning I abandoned Zvi and my wonderful childhood friend Averil came to the house and we walked around the corner to a delightful little coffee shop for breakfast. Our Tel Aviv sojourn over, the children safely deposited in school, we headed back to Jerusalem, to Motza, and fresh, dry air which felt so good after the humidity of Tel Aviv!

 

It was a busy week but mostly good things.

 

Two evenings ago I invited a few women neighbours to meet our newest neighbour Rachel. Most of us came into our new homes together the moment all the building approvals were obtained by the "kablan" builder and Rachel and her husband moved in just a couple of weeks ago. I know what it is to be the new girl on the block so I chose the 4 ladies very carefully. Only positive people allowed!

 

Last night Zvi and I went to the Jerusalem Theatre to meet our lovely friend Ronit Banit, Zvi's musical director who now works with the Jerusalem Symphony and to attend a concert of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra; a concert with a difference. It was a concert of the music of Charlie Chaplin.

Phillipe Quint, an international virtuoso, created the programme which he played on a Stradivarius, and the audience was captivated by the stories about Chaplin's life, loves and music and the pictures on the huge screen behind the orchestra. In one magical moment the Conductor of the Symphony, Steven Sloane, conducted the orchestra in synch with the 1921 Movie "The Kid". In short, a magical evening which culminated with Chaplin's most famous work, "Smile". 

 

Tonight our lovely friends Barry and Cristine Slawsky of Edmonton and their adorable son James (aka Haim Elimelech) are coming for Shabbat Dinner. They have a delightful couple with them, Melissa and Paul Pasutto, Christian friends who are in Israel for the very first time. Hopefully Melissa and Paul will go to Bethlehem on Sunday and to the Baptisal site of Qasr el Yahud which ironically means Tower of the Jews! They should arrive by about 6-6:30 so that Zvi can show them around our complex, the amazing old building that was once a convalescent home for the workers of Israel, a glorious building designed in the form of the White House but in beautiful pinky cream Jerusalem stone. Next on the Zvitour of our home will be the Avenue of the Presidents; trees planted by each President of Israel. The first tree was planted by a dreamer, a dreamer who knew that the dream would come true, a very sick young man he never saw the State of Israel.

 

While visiting Israel in 1898, Theodor Herzl sought an audience with German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was also in the Holy Land. After visiting the coastal settlements of Mikve Yisrael and Rishon LeTzion, Herzl traveled toward Jerusalem. As he passed through the Judean hills, he noticed its splendour as well as its barrenness due to neglect over the centuries. However, he noticed an island of green amidst the desolation. It was a small Jewish settlement, the only one in the area. The settlement, named Motza, possessed a population of 200 people and was located several miles west of Jerusalem. Its abundance of olive, date, and apricot trees, along with clusters of grapevines, gave it its fertile appearance. A wave of Arab riots against the Jews erupted throughout the Holy Land in 1929, and Motza suffered at the hands of Arabs from neighbouring villages. The beleaguered settlement was soon abandoned. However, four years later, a new settlement, Moshav Motza Ilith (Upper Motza) was established near that location, situated slightly higher on the same hill. In clear view of the Moshav rested the remains of Herzl’s cypress tree. That settlement has grown, sits on the famous Seven Sisters old road into Jerusalem and the fantastic new highway which takes its place, and we live there happy to show our guests the trees which are right there under our fabulous veranda!

 

Talking of verandas (and of segues not Segways, thank you Michael Poppers) since my back is playing up I set Zvi to work this week moving pots around so that it looks even more beautiful and lush. The little lemon tree is covered in future fruits and the kumquats will be ready for Martin when he visits.

 

This Sunday, incredibly, we have the opening, the dedication of Dr. Dan's Room in Shalva. I am so excited. I promise to tell you all about it. Daniel's father, Philip will be there with his wife Barbara, obviously Rachel and the children too and many dear friends. I could not have even begun to create such an incredible place without the help of Gaby and Liron. They have guided me, pushed me, persuaded me and been such incredible friends. This has been a labour of love, just as Daniel would have wanted. The opening is just the beginning of so many dreams; can you imagine a special needs theatre group? A special needs dance troupe? A special needs ……wait, did I say special needs? Yes of course they have needs but they are so talented, so capable, why shouldn't their dreams come true too?

 

So to songs. Actually the first one is not a song, it is an instrumental but you all know the words. Smile. It's what I do, the words reflect my life especially over the last two and a half years. Smile. That's what creating Dr. Dan's Room has helped me to do https://youtu.be/ekl271vZZPk  

 

When Dina and Ana'el start to sing and the band begins to play, one realises that through Kalman and Malki's dreams a magnificent reality came true. Let's face it, who on earth would have thought that a group of "disabled" people with phenomenal abilities would sing at the Eurovision Song contest? Well they did! A Million Dreams https://youtu.be/4HWaldJt5Bc

 

My Prayer. When Andre Bocelli performed in Israel last month, he invited Shiri Maimon to sing with him. The words, Let it be our prayer – lead us to a place, light us with your grace. https://youtu.be/SMzVBS8u47g

 

I wish you a good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful weekend filled with love, kindness, gentleness – that is my prayer.

 

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila