Fears, Faith and a Happy New Year

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

Doughnuts, Doldrums Christmas and Chanuka

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

Chanuka, Christmas and Coalitions

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

Fickle, Football and Future

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

Democracy isn't easy

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