Kinneret Chaya 2002-2009

30th March 2002 – 30th March 2009 There are moments in time which are burned deeply into my memory; times of great loss alongside times of great joy, somehow interlinked. Of all those experiences there is one which stands out, alone in its enormity – the night of March 30th 2002. Driving back from a visit to Herzliya our friend Orly called"Where are you?" – the question we all asked of each other when there had been a pigu'a – a terror attack. "Where was it?" I asked "Where was the pigu'a? She went very quiet and her voice broke as she said "In a coffee shop in Tel Aviv and Sheila, Yaffa and Moishes daughter Kinneret was seriously injured, we don't know if she will survive” The moment we got home I called Yaffa at the hospital who told us the terrible news that Kinneret was burned over 80% of her body and the doctors gave her a minimal chance of survival let alone recovery. That night Zvi's son Amiad took an amulet from a Jerusalem Rabbanit to place under Kinneret's pillow. A Rabbi came to the hospital and as he blessed her he asked the family to change her name from Kinneret to Kinneret Chaya – Kinneret Lives; and so began an incredibly tough, miraculous journey toward the phenomenal woman, mother and wife that is Kinneret Chaya Boosany Twig today. Kinneret was a slightly aloof, exceptionally beautiful young woman who was searching out her place in the world. When she came back from her travels to the Far East she did a bit of modeling and studied alternative medicine, financing the studies working as a waitress, or "barmanit" in a Tel Aviv café called "My Coffee Shop". The coffee shop did not have a guard, as so many places in Tel Aviv at that time, and no-one suspected the young man who walked in and asked for a cup of coffee. Kinneret walked behind the bar/counter to prepare the coffee when he blew himself up. Nearly 40 people were injured that night and Kinneret was one. As he detonated the explosive belt on his body, the inferno caught the alcoholic drinks behind the bar which burst into an inferno and her frail young body went up in flames. The firemen put out the flames and the paramedics began to clear the injured. Itzik Cohav, a volunteer paramedic, sensed something was missing, he returned to check the site and suddenly, under the overturned bar he saw a small hand. Itzik moved the bar with supernatural strength and found a tiny burned body underneath. To his amazement, Kinneret spoke to him. Itzik carried her to the ambulance and travelled to Ichilov Hospital with her, never leaving her side. It was Itzik who called Kinnerets family. Days, weeks and months Kinneret Chaya remained in an induced coma, 88 days to be precise. I kept a full diary of all visits and events. The Boosany family rallied round and aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings kept the family going at the hospital, bringing food and love. Zvi and I were honoured to join the family but I can never forget the first time Kinneret Chayas mother Yaffa took me aside and asked me if I wanted to go in to the sterile room and see Kinneret Chaya – who was beginning to come out of the coma. I was terrified but desperate to see this amazing child/woman. As I walked down the corridor in the Sheba Burns Unit I could see a tiny body on a sea of green air cushions atop an improbably high bed. Barely recognizable as a human being, she suddenly turned toward me and smiled a smile that defeats description, I was hooked. I was in love with Kinneret Chaya. From that day on my diary of a terror survivor was not about the family, nor about my feelings, it became essential that the world know about this amazing woman who has defeated death and even through her pain was able to smile. I recorded her first mouthful of food – gosh I can still see the absolute joy on her face as her Mum peeled a grape and fed her half, chewed carefully as if it were the elixir of life – which it was. One day I came in to the ward and found Kinneret Chaya on her feet "10 steps, I walked 10 steps" she said as she hung on to the arm of her sister Anat. The entire family played its part in Kinneret Chayas recovery. Yaffa, who devotedly slept beside Kinneret Chaya, Moshe who gave love and support, Anat whose determination drove KC on, and Nitzan whose quiet practical help kept everyone sane – and Kinneret Chayas former boyfriend Tal (now Shalom Zalman who lives as a Haredi man) who slept beside her and made her feel as a loved woman. You all helped too, every one of you who sent her a letter, gave her a gift, expressed love to her, but there is one man above all others who helped her put her thoughts into perspective. Pastor Mike Evans came to visit Kinneret Chaya with us at her parents’ home, on her first weekend visit from rehab. Zvi, Martin, Yaffa, Moshe and Yaffas sister sister looked on as Mike Evans and his friend Mike Atkins gently asked permission from this traditionally Jewish household to pray for Kinneret Chayas recovery. Very moved the family gave permission and the two Mikes prayed. At the end Mike Evans looked into Kinneret Chayas eyes and said “Kinneret Chaya, there are two ways to look at everything. To move forward you must turn your scars into stars and bitter into better” We all gasped and a look of understanding washed over Kinneret Chayas face. Kinneret Chaya has turned her scars into stars. After many painful operations, much at the hand of surgeons who gave their skill and their hearts to this amazing young woman, Kinneret Chaya is a beautiful woman. Her scars are irrelevant. Kinneret Chaya met the love of her life Amir, seeing him across the synagogue they both attended. Their marriage was joyous and now, as a religious Jewish woman, miracles happened, Kinneret Chaya Boosany Twig is the doting mother of Odaya (thanks to G-d) a beautiful little girl. I just spoke Kinneret Chaya’s mother, Yaffa to wish her Mazal Tov on Kinneret Chaya’s rebirthday. Yaffa said that Kinneret Chaya celebrates on the Hebrew anniversary the 17th of Nissan. KC is out with her husband Amir doing her Pesach shopping. Yaffa proudly told me that Kinneret Chaya is the most amazing mother, with little Odaya on her hip most of the day. She has a warm and welcoming home, a good husband, a beautiful child and life is good. Whoever claimed that miracles don't happen should look to Kinneret Chaya Boosany Twig who made her own miracles with the support of her incredible family and all of us who love her. I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world because I watched the emergence of a glorious flower called Kinneret Chaya Boosany Twig.

Demokratia and Exodus

29th March, 2023 Shabbat Shalom, almost Pesach Sameach, Ramadan Kareem and a Happy Easter This is what I wrote on Monday morning “Last night the rational people of Israel, the centre right and left, stopped hoping everything will be alright and became lions that roared their discontent! Within five minutes of the announcement that Netanyahu had sacked Defence Minister Gallant for speaking out and suggesting that the judicial reform takes a different form and the coalition cabinet slow down the procedure, ordinary folk who had never demonstrated in their lives, people of every age and socio-economic level, left home, taking their flags with them, and joined spontaneous demonstrations. Almost every town and village, every bridge, everywhere they stood with their flags, singing Hatikva and “Ein li Eretz Aheret” – I have no other country. On the main thoroughfare in Tel Aviv, the Ayalon Freeway, the demonstration grew and grew to over 100,000 people; in Jerusalem they began on Aza Street opposite the Netanyahu home and then marched to the Knesset; every town and village expressed its dismay. Of course, not everyone is disturbed by the questionable behaviour of the government, there are always the dyed in the wool party members who believe their leader is right no matter what, but they are slowly becoming a minority. The post-Shabbat organised demonstrations have given way to a Crie de Coeur across the country. A friend who was at the Jerusalem demonstration was amazed at the police who she said did their job to keep the peace but without enthusiasm. We are witnessing history and true democracy, the ultimate form of democracy, the people’s voice.” Sadly, there was a change the next evening. Itamar Ben Gvir, and to a certain extent the Prime Minister, called for a reaction to the peaceful demonstrations of the last 40 days. “Go out into the streets and fight back” was Ben Gvir’s call. They did. Supporters of this government, instead of demonstrating, instigated physical fights with the police, throwing of police barriers and there were many arrests. Yossi Eli, a senior reporter with Israel’s Channel 13, a man who was the first on the ground in Ukraine frightened of nothing, was attacked, beaten up and terrified, he’s in hospital with broken ribs and a damaged spleen, it was very clear that it was a targetted attack on Channel 13. According to Yossi Eli, Ben Gvir was actually in the crowd, but I cannot verify. In a flash the relief of the most recent announcements of the PM that there would be a delay in passing the judicial reform bill until after the Passover break, went up in a cloud of smoke and our fears returned. It must be said time and time again that the demonstrators of the last 12 weeks covered the gamut, the mosaic of Israeli society, people of every sector who just want us to be one people, that all decisions of our government be democratic without causing harm Yes, dear friends, I know that you are worried sick, as are we, but I have not lost hope that it will all be worked out. On the positive side the PM has withdrawn his demand that Major General Yoav Gallant resign his position as Minister of Defence; both Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid have agreed to sit down and talk with the Prime Minister as to how to move forward. The one thing that amazed even me is that apparently the current Cabinet has not met as a unit since they came to power! Perhaps one of the most emotional points in the entire period happened just 5 days ago. For many of the demonstrators the terms “rights demand responsibility” and “equality in burden” referring to the fact that many, by no means all, of the Haredi community do not serve in the IDF or do National Service by volunteering in hospitals etc, in fact for many, just recognising the State of Israel. Anyway, they chose to march through Bnei Brak, a Haredi enclave next to Tel Aviv. I was worried, I didn’t want anyone to be hurt, then it happened. Instead of counterprotesting, the community came out with flowers, drinks and sandwiches for the protestors. It had two effects. Perhaps the most important being that it took the air out of the protesting crowd. The Rabbis of Bnei Brak were so clever – now that is leadership. One part of the service, or the order (seder) read from the Haggadah (story) of Pesach, refers to the 4 sons. Perhaps we had all of them these last weeks. The wise son—the Chacham, then the evil/rebellious son—the Rasha, followed by the simple son—the Tam, and finally, the son who doesn't know to ask. The scene of these four sons plays a pivotal role in the seder. Are we a mixture or does the Haggadah refer to the subsequent generations of Hegel? Most of us have been leading our lives, simultaneous to the deep concerns, and Mr. and Mrs. Netanyahu are not the only ones who go away for the weekend! In fact, I think we met some even more fascinating people last weekend. We got on the coach really early on Friday morning and headed off northward. Oh, by “we” I mean Zvi’s choir, Hakol Yachassi. Our main stop on the way to Beit Shean was at Mishmar ha Emek, a beautiful Kibbutz overlooking the Jezreel Valley with phenomenal views over the entire area, but that’s not the reason we were there. Mishmar ha Emek is/was a Palmach kibbutz before the nascent state was born, the site of training and preparing the various elements of the Palmach https://palmach.org.il/en/history/about/ . The Palmach was supported by the British Mandate and the two worked together in training and fighting the Germans in North Africa. We stood in the natural cave where Jews of German extraction were trained in the idioms and mannerisms of the German Army, down to the finest details, in order to infiltrate and spy. The Jews of Arab countries learned to the idioms and mannerisms of the Arab forces and so it went on. The secret was in the details and it was one detail that caused one “German” group to fail. Apparently in Germany at the time, the gesture to show the number three was using the thumb as one of the numbers, accidentally one of the pseudo Germans used the three fingers without the thumb and so was discovered and they all lost their lives. We had a wonderful guide through the kibbutz history and then a delicious Druze lunch of Druze pita, humus, salads, stuffed vine leaves, and all the trimmings ending with knaffe. We learned so much, even those of the group who like Zvi, are specialists in Israeli history. I highly recommend a visit to the Kibbutz and be ready to be amazed https://shimur.org/sites/the-palmach-cave-at-mishmar-haemek/?lang=en From there we drove straight to the Beit Shean Youth Hostel to prepare for Shabbat. Freshly scrubbed we made our way to the dining room, where a family had gathered to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of one of the children. I was thrilled to see the full rainbow of Judaism in one family! From Haredi to secular all loving and accepting and singing their hearts out with Shabbat songs. They were enjoying themselves so much but suddenly stopped and were silent when Zvi began Kiddush for the choir. For those who don’t know him, Zvi has a voice that can carry kilometres and silence the most noisy of crowds! After a very satisfactory supper we headed off to one of the conference rooms and sang our hearts out until the witching hour of 23:00, the hour that the law demands we fall silent! Next morning after breakfast, we met up for our walking tour right next to the Youth Hostel. Beit Shean was one of the Roman Decapolis, the ten cities and excavations are not only vast but exceptional, showing the way of life of the residents very clearly. It is almost certain that Jesus visited the ancient city since he made a point of visiting all of the Decapolis yet none is mentioned in the New Testament. Our guide spoke of the Roman times and of the present city which evolved with the State of Israel. https://dannythedigger.com/beit-shean/ Exhausted, dusty but very happy we returned for lunch, rested and then the choir met to sing until Shabbat was out. We then climbed aboard the coach and snoozed our way back home. I love the Israel Museum. Not only, but also because it is included in the 10 best Museums in the world. This time it wasn’t for a tour, it was to celebrate the birthday of the lovely Betty, friend and incredible organiser of all the volunteers, a full-time job she does as a volunteer! The restaurant was busy, the food good and the discussion amongst 6 women went beyond the demonstrations and what we all felt about the PM, it was a celebration of strong and active women all of us over the age of 70! In case you are wondering why this week’s missive is early (and long), we are off again this weekend, this time to Eilat to gather strength before the final leg of the marathon preparations for Passover! I am well and truly into the Passover preparations! We succeeded in doing most of the shopping of the special foodstuffs on Monday, carefully checking f the products have “kitniot” or pulses, such as wheat, rice, chick peas, and such like, because they are permissible for Mizrachi (North African) Jews but not for Eastern European (Ashkenazi ) Jews – don’t ask, it is a bone of contention in our house because Zvi insists that we are all from the Middle East anyway, but in the meantime since I do the work I get the choice! So, where was I, we did most of the shopping and then went to the butchers and chose the various meats and chicken finally getting the salmon. I had already cleaned the freezer (Passover cleaning is probably the precursor to Spring Cleaning) so could put it all straight in. The dishes are all up here already so that as soon as I get back from Eilat, oh, that’s where we are going with Zvi’s boys and families, I will have all the makings of the Seder night for the 26 diners (I told you it would grow) and can just get on with cooking. It’s all about TRADITION. On the eve of Passover, the 27th of March, 2002 a suicide bomber walked in to the Park Hotel, Netanya and blew himself up, killing 29 people, Mothers, Fathers, children, grandparents, who had arrived to celebrate the festival together. Yes we have had worse times. Thursday the 30th of March. 21 years ago, in the evening, we were driving back from Herzliya when we received a phone call from Orly. “Something terrible has happened. Kinneret was in a terror attack in Tel Aviv and she is in critical condition in hospital, they don’t give her much chance of survival” Kinneret was burned on 85 percent of her body and I managed to record every moment of her recovery. 21 years later and Kinneret Chaya is a married lady with four children, you see, miracles do happen. http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/kinneret-chaya-21/ Ramadan has started. A month of fasting and celebrating, it is a holy time for Moslems but in our region it has become a time to wreak havoc and death. I pray that this time it will be a time of peace. Easter is still a while away, and although it is no longer a time of Easter Bonnets and fewer and fewer people go to church it is still a beautiful time and in many churches the blessing of animals, pets of every nature still takes place. I love it! The church bells of Jerusalem will ring out true and clear, St. Johns up on the Mount of Olives, the Dormition right near the Scottish Church and of course the Church of the Nativity. It is said that each has a carillon that when all played in sequence forms a beautiful tune. Despite Zvi’s best efforts during the Jerusalem 3,000 celebrations, it never happened. Of course the Notre Dame Church and the Italian Hospital, the Russian Orthodox and the Ethiopian Orthodox, the Church of Mary Magdalene and the Greek Orthodox Church and of course the exquisite Mormon Church, all will be full of prayer goers. I love the rainbow of some 42 Christian denominations (Zvi says 52) Why am I writing to you now and not on Friday? Because we are off to Eilat of course! We come back on Sunday and ……. I go full pelt into the final cooking for the multitudes, or 26 of them. So what music would you like? I fancy some very positive Israeli songs, how about you? The main part of the reading of the story of our Exodus from Egypt begins with the youngest child asking four questions as to why this night is different from all other nights. I love this rendition by Gad Elbaz because you see the purity, the joy of a family sitting at the Seder Table, singing together. https://youtu.be/A1rH7rYuZQE Noladeti le Shalom – I was born for peace – as we all are. Uzi Hitman sings with joy https://youtu.be/06FEj7FYEsE The last song is both a prayer and a statement. This last period and for the next while, Israel has been like a pressure cooker, not from the enemy without but rather the enemy within – intolerance and power – the two most dangerous aspects with any society, but we are not any society, we are a people who know what racism is, a people that has suffered oppression yet came together to form a wonderful democratic society for all. We opened our arms to refugees from Arab Countries, from Eastern Europe, from the Soviet Union, from Ethiopia and from the West, but instead of describing them as refugees we said they are coming come -making Aliya. We were, are and will be one people again, it will take time to ease the pain of the enforced rift between us, but we will make it. Why? Because that’s who we are ‘Ze Katan Aleinu” which loosely translated means it’s easy-peasy for us. https://youtu.be/Gjw89mWLDPg I wish you a good week, a Shabbat Shalom and a truly wonderful Passover. Remember you don’t have to be Jewish to read the story of the Exodus from Egypt! With much love from Jerusalem. I hope that the song, prayer, lamentations at the end of the Passover Seder will come true for you. Le Shana Ha’baah b’Yerushalyim. NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM - or maybe this one? Sheila

Miracles and Misanthropy

23rd March 2023 1st of Nissan 5783 Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov (a good month) Today is the first day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, actually the real Hebrew new year, the month from which the year is counted. What is special about this month? As is indicated in its name, it is the month of miracles. The Hebrew word for miracle is ness, thus this month brings hope for new beginnings. Right now, we really need a miracle to get us out of the mess that we are in. I love the fact that on this day we bless the new trees, the new blossom, the new life that spring brings, our history and our traditions are deeply rooted in the earth, in ecology and in being grateful for each flower, bud, sapling and nascent fruit. Birkat Ha'ilanot, or blessing of the trees, during the month of Nissan is one of the blessings we recite on seeing wondrous things, for example, the ocean, lightening, a rainbow or passing through a place where a miracle occurred. Birkat Ha'ilanot is recited on seeing the wondrous renewal in nature, as the fruit trees blossom, in anticipation of the future harvest, while acknowledging the deeper aspects of Mother Nature's renewal, and the connection of humankind with the earth. Today is a day of “Shituk” in Israel. The word has many meanings. It can mean paralysis, silence or closing down, which is what the demonstrations are attempting today. These are not angry demonstrations, as I have tried to explain, and those who have joined the ordinary people include, today, the acting head of the Israeli Lawyer’s Association, Members of Knesset, teachers, Professors, students, observant and secular Jews, people from the left, right and centre. This is a true people’s uprising of a most orderly fashion. It is not a group of disgruntled extremists; it is truly representative. Is it still about the judicial reform? Probably not, it is about the manner of the rushed through reforms on many levels including the judicial reforms, but last night a law was rushed through its third reading. Whereby, previously, the decision as to the suitability of a Prime Minister to continue that position was made by the Attorney General (whether physically or mentally capable as in the case of Ariel Sharon and Menachem Begin) was rescinded, making the decision by the Prime Minister himself as to his suitability to govern!! I know that the United States was disturbed by the passing of a law to allow building and settlement where it was previously limited but this vote is the final straw for many. The question on everybody’s lips is “Where are the rational members of the Likud Party? Why aren’t they voting against these changes?” Well, the rumblings have started among the Likud Members of Knesset and a very few have begun to express their concern, led by Former Speaker of the Knesset Yuli (Yoel ) Edelstein who as a Refusnik understands exactly what it means to live under a non-democratic government; Nir Barkat has said that he will abide by the final decision of the Supreme Court but has not attempted to vote against the coalition. Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, was called to the State Department after the rescinding of the Law of Disengagement, allowing Israelis to enter the areas that were evacuated in the Disengagement Accords, guaranteed by the United States. As if our internal problems were not enough, there were three serious diplomatic gaffes by members of this government this week. Smotritch declared that the are not and never were Palestinians, and the other stupidity was by our Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, who was treated like a Queen on her visit to Dubai, then came back to Israel and said, publicly, that she didn’t like Dubai!! The last one may seem funny but our relationship with the Emirates is of ultimate importance not only in creating the Abraham Accords but in all the diplomatic moves since that time, including Impact-se’s work in the Moslem world to introduce tolerance into their education. Perhaps the worst was the rejected intention of the United Torah Judaism Party to ban the use of the word Jesus in Israel. Yes, of course it was rejected, but to even raise the question is ghastly beyond words. Our Christian citizens and our Christian Allies do not deserve such disrespect. I’m sorry to go on about it but I see this incredible, democratic country in trouble. It is very far from a death knoll; indeed it could be said that through the demonstrations we are proving, yet again, our true democracy, but it is sad to see so many happy Israelis sink into depression and our relationship with other countries change overnight. On the other hand, we have just been voted number four among the happiest countries in the world, the highest we have ever been since the rating began! Admittedly that was during the period 2021-2022, incidentally during the previous government, but it is true, even with our political problems of today. Israel is a happy place, it really is. We have everything; glorious nature that we go out and explore at weekends, beaches that suit tourism and surfing, amazing history, archaeological treasures, Biblical wonders, food, aaaah food! The range of restaurants is incredible, from shwarma and felafel to haute cuisine, from Ethiopian to Swedish dishes, from Arabic or Eastern (twenty starters before you get going) to the teeny-weeny artistic designer portions of modern plating! In general, we are a happy people who love to complain and argue, yet enjoy and love every moment and every inch of our Israel. Finland is yet again number one but sorry Australia, UK, US and Canada, you are well behind us!! Back to reality. Teachers and schools at the UN agency that runs education and social services for Palestinians call for the murder of Jews, and create teaching materials that glorify terrorism, encourage martyrdom, demonize Israelis, and incite antisemitism, reveals a new report by two independent research and monitoring groups. Entitled “UNRWA Education: Reform or Regression,” today’s joint report — presented yesterday in the U.S. Congress, which is considering new legislation in the House and the Senate to cut funding for UNRWA and at the US State Department – uncovers 47 new cases of incitement by UNRWA staff, in breach of the agency’s stated policies of zero tolerance for racism, discrimination, or antisemitism in its schools and educational materials. I must give a shout out for the Impact team, headed by Marcus Sheff and Arik Agassi, who work night and day to bring this to the attention of legislators. To honour Passover, Ramadan and Easter the President of Israel has invited members of the public to request pardons and erasure of criminal records to grant Haninot, especially to young people in the hope that by erasing their criminal records, especially for minimal crimes, that they can begin a new life of rehabilitation and change. It is traditional, not a new thing, but this President has emphasised his determination to turn young offenders into law abiding citizens. Ramadan, the Moslem festival of fasting, reflection and community, lasts a month. The fast is from dawn to dusk each day and ends with a celebratory meal and traditional dishes often with guests from one’s community joining in. In the same way that the period of Lent means forgoing unessential foodstuffs and ends in a feast, or in Judaism the period between Passover and Shevuot (Pentecost) we have so much in common and so little understanding. Sadly, Ramadan in the Palestinian Authority has become a month long hate fest, indeed if you include the run up to Ramadan it is even longer. They, like all extremists, have turned religion into a weapon, even worse, they have twisted Islam into a weapon. So very sad and at least 14 Israelis have lost their lives to that hatred that no-one in the PA has the courage or the will to stop. Of course, there are beacons of light, people of honour who fight the hatred, like Prof. Mohammed Dajani about whom I wrote last week, but there are few who like him are willing to stand up to death threats. Or Ashkar z”l lived the perfect life. He lived in one of the most beautiful Moshavs (villages) in Israel, Nes Harim, high in the Jerusalem Hills. He was a renowned Iron man and a terrific friend. On March the 9th, Mutaz Salah al-Khawaja headed for the famous Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, walked up to a group of young people enjoying a cup of coffee in the sun, and started shooting. He succeeded in taking the life of this young man who had his entire life in front of him. Two people died that day, the terrorist, inculcated with hatred so great that he was willing to sacrifice his own life to take that of another, and Or Ashkar the victim of decades of hate teaching. Or, his name means light, a light extinguished. Zvi’s birthday celebrations have gone on all week, with phone calls from all over the world! We actually didn’t invite anyone home after he Friday night family meal, but somehow, we had a houseful most days! A bit of a challenge since I lost my voice and felt really lousy, but hey, we love visitors! Last night instead of performing at an old people’s home, or rather after their performance Zvi was taken out by his fellow quartet to celebrate and I had a quiet evening at home! Today we are thrilled to have brother and sister, Jyl Bell and Phil Levy at home. They come all the way from Down Under, from Melbourne Australia. The plan was to go to their hotel but since it is much easier to leave the centre of Jerusalem than come in we chose to avoid the traffic of the demonstrations and have them with us. As I write they are having the “Zvitour” of our compound, a full history lesson of Motza. We will then go off into nearby Kiriat Anavim for lunch. Tomorrow, at the crack of dawn we will park our car at the Mevasseret Community Centre and get on the coach, filled with friends from Zvi’s choir “Hakol Yachassi”, heading off to the ancient city of Beit She’an, one of the ten cities of the Roman Empire, the Decapolis, https://en.parks.org.il/new/bet-shean-national-park-must-see/ where we will spend Shabbat with the choir. Admittedly, once we have had our Shabbat meal tonight, they will be singing, which gives me a chance to go to bed early and rest my still croaky voice. Tomorrow, Shabbat we usually go for a long walk before Shabbat lunch but since the outlook is for heavy rain we’ll probably just hang around the Youth Hostel/Hotel. Hey, one must learn to appreciate a weekend without cooking before starting the real run-up to Passover!! Before Zvi took Jyl and Phil back to their hotel I asked Phil what he would like as my first song today. “Two Yiddishe boys singing a song that is very appropriate today”. I dedicate this song to President Isaac Bougie Herzog. “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” but I’m going to cheat. This version is not sung by “the two Yiddeshe boys” but rather the Shalva Band with two famous Moslem singers to honour our collective festivals. https://youtu.be/uIbc7PL8VZ8 Lu Yehi – Let it be – was written by Naomi Shemer during the Yom Kippur War to honour those who were lost. It has become a symbol of hope, that all our wishes come to fruition, wishes for our beautiful country. https://youtu.be/xJoZ9R4i-N0 I have given you the Koolulam version several times so this time I thought you should hear the original, Matisyahu and “One Day”. It’s such a hope filled song, sung by a Haredi Jew for the world. https://youtu.be/WRmBChQjZPs There are too many people who find my optimism either naïve or misplaced but for me these demonstrations show the incredible strength of Israeli democracy in action. We don’t need anyone else to tell us that what is happening will affect us long term in ways that we can only imagine and we are out in the streets showing our determination that it won’t happen. One scene today really warmed my heart. A man was standing on his open-roofed car waving his flag, blocking the traffic. A policeman came up to him and spoke too softly for the nearby camera to catch, but there were smiles on both sides and the man quietly slid back into his car and drove off. As I said this week, these demonstrations cannot be compared to anywhere else in the world. THIS IS ISRAEL. Shabbat Shalom from the most incredible country in the world, and yes, I know I am biased! With much love, because without it the world doesn’t turn. Sheila

Can't Complain

17th March, 2023 Shabbat Shalom! Shabbat Shalom from wonderful, democratic Israel. The demonstrations here in Israel are not the storming of the Bastille, although it is said that we have our own version of Marie Antoinette; it is nothing to do with Guy Fawkes and the 5th of November plot nor is it the rather violent storming of Congress just a couple of years ago, no, it is an expression of our democratic objections to being governed by an administration which includes extreme right wing idealists. That is the statement being made by hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets proudly carrying their Israeli flags. There is always a danger of becoming over zealous, of taking the argument one step too far, but in 10 weeks of demonstrations that has not happened. However, there is one instance which really made me angry. A group of Ex-Pat Israelis went to the German Parliament to ask that they decline to meet with the Prime Minister! That is beyond the pale on so many levels! Like it or not he is our Prime Minister and to ask (demand) another government to shun him defies imagination, especially a German government. It dishonours our beautiful country. Do these people have no memory no understanding of history? Unfortunately a mistaken antipathy toward religion has emerged, which is a rotten shame because we have a beautiful religion and just one country, a tiny little country which is ours, ours to share, but ours, and without recognising that it in order to be a Jewish country we need to abide by certain elements of our faith we lose our mutual respect. I don’t want us to become a secular state, I want a Jewish State which includes freedom of choice and respect for those who make different choices. I want a Jewish State in which everybody takes responsibility for the whole by accepting that rights carry obligations. A fellow moderate, positive defender of Israel, a man who hung up his sword and took up a ploughshare, Robert Wolf, with whom I have much in common in our Facebook conversations, suggested that we look around us at the countries with whom we share a continent and realise just how lucky we are. There was a joke during the big Aliya from Russia and the FSU. A man was being interviewed about his former life “What was life like back in Russia” to which he responded “I can’t complain”, “How was the education back in Russia?” again “I can’t complain” the interviewer ran the gamut of questions and each time got the same response “I can’t complain”. Finally, he asked “What about your new life here in Israel?” Smiling the new immigrant responded “Now here I can complain!” So, ladies and gentlemen, that’s what’s happening right here in Israel, we can complain. When one considers what was before the State of Israel, those Jews would have given anything to be in our position – with a phenomenal country that is a light unto nations, most of the time! President Herzog is the adult in the room in our current conundrum. He made a calm and presidential speech to the people of Israel, recognising that this could descend into a diabolical chasm in our society, and put forward a plan to bring together the various sides in the leadership battle. He called it following the Golden Path to a calm resolution. Thus far only Benny Gantz has agreed to his suggested terms and the PM has rejected it, but I am hopeful that an agreement will emerge. Please excuse the long link but this article explains well https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-15/ty-article/.premium/herzog-to-present-second-compromise-plan-to-netanyahus-judicial-overhaul/00000186-e5b9-dacd-a9a7-ffbf675b0000 Professor Mohammed Dajani Daoudi became the recipient of a Simon Wiesenthal Prize this week. Professor Daoudi is a member of an old Jerusalem family whose history goes back hundreds of years. He is a proud Palestinian who believes in peaceful co-existence, has created an inclusive method of teaching, is on the International Advisory Board of Impact-se and is a fine man who took a group of students from Bir Zeit University to Poland and to Auschwitz. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Dajani_Daoudi I met some wonderful people this week when the amazing Rachel Heisler, the Director of the American Friends of Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, invited me to meet some of her Board members. Of course, the first questions were about the political dilemma that we face in Israel at the moment, and the possibility of introducing Holistic Therapies into Soroka’s Oncology Department following the Yuri Shtern Holistic Therapies in Shaare Zedek. I was deeply impressed by the openness and interest of the people around the table and their determination to make Soroka a hospital to be reckoned with. Quite apart from the fascinating conversation, meeting good people on the veranda of the King David Hotel is special. The atmosphere is magical, far beyond the sheer beauty of the view, one is surrounded by history and the echoes of the myriad of important visitors, treaties discussed, Presidents, Prime Ministers, film stars and great musicians who sat on this very veranda and whose signatures decorate the white strip along the entire length of the lobby are tangible. Ah to be a fly on the wall ever since its opening in 1931. As I write to you there is a great deal of puffing and panting in the streets of Jerusalem as the fit and unfit run alongside each other in the Jerusalem Marathon. Luckily the weather is perfect, sunny with a crispness in the air as the contenders struggle with the many hills that make up Jerusalem. Although it is taken very seriously by Marathon runners of a high calibre, it includes options of 5 kilometre, family runs, half marathons and full marathons so that everyone can take part including, obviously, wheelchair marathons. The Marathon Digest (yes there is such a thing) describes the Jerusalem Marathon as combining competition and history as no other. Beginning at the Knesset the runners wind their way past the Israel Museum, through the Valley of the Cross all the way to the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus. Ishmael Khaldi is an exceptional man who I am proud to call friend. Having served in both Israeli Consular and Ambassadorial positions he is now the Israel Ambassador to Turkmenistan. Ishmael grew up herding the family’s goats on a hillside in the North of Israel, in a Bedouin Village, and after serving in the IDF, chose a path so contrasting the free and easy country life that it is hard to imagine. He served as the Information Officer in the London Embassy, travelling to Jewish Communities and Christian churches all over the UK, and now, he is in Turkmenistan. He sent me a photograph of the view from his apartment overlooking the mountains of Iran. I was fascinated to hear that he is really enjoying his appointment because Turkmenistan is an open and tolerant society, unlike her dangerous and belligerent neighbour. Oh, I assume you realise that Ishmael is a Moslem, a proud Moslem and a fine Israeli. The festival of Purim has passed and we have entered a period of intensive spring cleaning. The supermarkets have begun the scrubbing process of their shelves, almost every shelf holding a display of household cleaning products on special offer; and slowly but surely, they are preparing to stock their Passover products. During the week the aroma of cooking n most neighborhoods has been replaced by that oh so popular Israeli cleaning product that we call Economika – basic ordinary bleach. No matter how many expensive products we buy, we tend to fall back on Economika at the run up to Passover. For my lovely non-Jewish readers, this annual process is a mixture of traditions, rules and preparations for the changing of dishes to receive the foods, special foods that have not come in contact with raising agents .......gosh it's much more complex than that. Each country of the Diaspora has its own permitted foodstuffs but the cleaning crosses all borders and origins! As we approach Passover, I will give you a closer run down of the delicious and the compulsory of the special meal at which we will tell the story of our Exodus, of the Children of Israel and their journey from slavery to freedom and ultimately a home of our own, including all the trials and tribulations of that journey. On Wednesday one of Zvi’s singing groups came to rehearse at our place. I love it when that happens, because they are a group of five wonderful people including their special musical director Ronit. I wouldn’t call it a choir but rather a group of singers who go to homes for the aged or to Holocaust survivors and sing the songs that they love. Their range is wide from Yiddish to Ladino, from modern to liturgical, and many old Israeli songs from when these folks were young. I love all the songs they sing but when Zvi sings Adio or together they sing in Yiddish it really reaches into my inherited soul. As always, every Israeli event or meeting begins with……food! Zvi went out and bought some fresh pastries so that they could simultaneously chat and whet their appetite for music! Yesterday the rainy weather gave way to glorious wintry sunshine so my neighbour Naomi and I set off for a delightful walk along the trail above the reservoir formed by the Beit Zayit dam. Oh the profusion of flowers! I think we found just about every colour of the rainbow up there beside the track, marvelling at how the few days of rain had encouraged the growth of just about everything! Not even the fact that the reservoir will empty soon as the steamy days of summer lengthen, the simple beauty of the stretch of water among the hills will satisfy me until next year. In the far distance we could see the golden onion domes of the Gorny Convent and below it, the tower of the Church of the Visitation, both in Ein Kerem, the buildings of the northern edge of Jerusalem, the beautiful houses of old Motza, the new Road 16 as it disappears into the hillside, the vineyards beneath us beside the reservoir and the rolling, tree covered hills surrounding us. The rain washed air was superb and each and every person we met greeted us with warmth. I realise that I am more optimistic than most, about everything, but I really believe that our current dissatisfaction with the government will sort itself out. I dislike extremes whether in government or in dissent. There is always, but always room for discussion even between those whose views are existentially different. We have seen the dire effects of uber-democracy, it leads to anarchy and violence – I may feel that certain members of Israel’s government are not suited to govern for a myriad of reasons, but I will defend their right to be freely elected just as I will defend our right to express our dismay. To me, what is happening in Israel right now is the ultimate expression of a democracy, I just pray that the moderate majority will continue to proudly hold their flags and not be drawn into illegal action. Tonight will be a Mexican Shabbat! Zvi’s family will come and a few special friends because in three days it will be Zvi’s birthday. Since my husband doesn’t trust me to make Mexican food, despite the fact that this Welsh Israeli successfully made a Mexican meal for Mexican friends a while ago, he doesn’t want me working too hard. We ordered the full range of Mexican food from the wonderful Rosie, which we will serve after a very traditional Kiddush (blessing over the wine) and breaking the bread (Challah). I’m not sure about the younger children’s reactions to guacamole, but as long as my husband is happy…… I think I’m going to prepare some pasta to keep on the side just in case. There is one Shabbat ceremony that I love more than any other. Once the table is laid, the food prepared, the house clean, then and only then, one hour before sunset I light the Shabbat Candles. On the one hand it is beautiful if the grandchildren join me, but to be quite honest, I love the sense of peace and calm that flows over me as I chant the age old blessing, standing before the candlesticks, one that I used to light with my mother, a pair that we received as a wedding gift and two brightly coloured ones. My mother use to light one for each child and so do I, one for each of our children and their families plus something I learned from my late son Daniel’s best friend Justin, aka Paddy, the brightly coloured candles are for Daniel, never to be forgotten. Music time! It’s funny how this has become an essential part of the newsletters, it kind of evolved over the years. I’ve been writing newsletter for 25 years or more, every Friday I think of you, write to you, each and every one of you is important to me. I may not have met you but we became friends. What better expression of positivity than the movie Life is Beautiful. https://youtu.be/aq9ScwF7pZ8 One of the most incredible performers is undoubtedly Stevie Wonder. I went to his concerts in three continents, the most incredible was in Sultan’s Pool Jerusalem where the entire audience was on its feet dancing. This song expresses the mood of all rational people of this crazy world https://youtu.be/GkUuohzhZGQ Did you know that a few weeks have passed without Koolulam! This song could have been written for me, the belief that love conquers all. https://youtu.be/J98XBmoZAi4 Shabbat Shalom dear friends. May your Shabbat be peaceful, never forgetting that despair should never be in our lexicon, there is always hope, always love, always kindness, we just have to make it for ourselves, one at a time. Never forget the power of one. With love from glorious Jerusalem. Sheila

Demonstrations, Dismay and Dignity

10th March, 2023 Shabbat Shalom! I was thrilled when lots of you responded last week, I love hearing from you and what you feel about my musings! I want to go back to Purim, although it ended a few days ago. The very idea that when reading the story of yet another leader, or rather a stupid leader, who allowed his senior politician convince him that he had to kill all the Jews in Shushan, a town in Persia. He really was a repulsive character yet somehow he wasn’t the anti-hero of the story, the anti-hero was one Haman who wound up having to suffer his own intended punishment for the hero Mordechai, although we all think that the heroine, Esther is the real star…….. wait, take a breath, explain…….. So, the major lesson in the Story of Queen Esther on Purim is that one should not hold grudges, to learn from the past but not to wreak revenge. We are supposed to be tipsy, no not fall down drunk, so that we cannot distinguish between the hero and the anti-hero. Such an important life lesson. It has been a difficult week in Israel, where, like the rest of the world, extremes seem to take over. The demonstrations against the judicial reforms have continued and despite claims to the contrary, have been surprisingly civilised. Yes, they have disrupted traffic but then people were warned in advance; hundreds of thousands of good, proud Israelis who disagree with the bully-boy tactics of the current government are out in the street carrying their Israeli flags with pride. The demonstrators come from every walk of life, are from the right and the left but are of one mind, to halt the pushing through of a judicial reform that will allow the indicted and the guilty to decide how to run this country. Just minutes after Internal Defence Minister Ben Gvir fired the Tel Aviv police Chief for being too lenient on the protestors, there was a terror attack on Dizengoff Street as post Purim revellers sat at coffee shops having fun. Three people were injured, the terrorist killed by a reserve soldier who was luckily armed. Obviously, there is no direct correlation but four former police chiefs have called for Netanyahu to fire Ben Gvir, someone who never served in the IDF, was refused by the IDF because of his constant incitement to hatred and found guilty of terrorism, cannot understand security, internal or general. Those of you who think that the Israeli streets are in turmoil need to rethink – this is still one of the safest countries in the world, personal safety. One can safely sent one’s children to school, women can walk down any street, night-time runners have no problem, we just hit the headlines on such a regular basis that too many get the wrong opinion. It’s really hard to explain but Israeli cities are safer than virtually any other city in the world, including yours! We have lousy neighbours but incredible security services; we hold demonstrations, but if you saw the line of police yesterday, including horses, they just formed a firm, uncrossable line, at times unsuccessfully stopping the demonstrators from blocking the main road. So different to most crowd control tactics elsewhere in the world. Perhaps one of the most erudite explanations of our discontent comes, surprisingly, from The Guardian newspaper https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/07/benjamin-netanyahu-coup-israeli-judicial-system Enough! We are too obsessed with judicial reforms and not enough with the miracles of everyday life. I was deeply sad to hear of the passing of Chaim Topol, so much more than a star of stage and screen, he was a brilliant proponent for his beloved Israel and an all round good man. Best known for his portrayal of Tevye the Milkman in Fiddler on the Roof, the finest performance anywhere in the world, the ultimate Eastern European Jew, and of the clever and very funny Salah Shabbati, the ultimate Moroccan immigrant. Having met Paul Newman on a visit to the States where he heard about Newman’s Hole in The Wall Gang camp, Topol put his heart and soul into building a similar foundation in Israel. https://www.afjrv.org/about/our-story/ So much more than a star, he was a mensch. Israel’s representative to the Eurovision is a highly talented young woman called Noa Kirer. A brilliant dancer with a great voice, every Israeli girl of a certain age (from 10-16) wants to be her! I know that Americans do not realise the importance of the Eurovision Song Contest, but important, if somewhat political, it is. I wish her every luck because this time our representative loves Israel and served in the IDF. South Africa, that country for whom so many Jews worked to free from cruel Apartheid, decided to downgrade their diplomatic relations with Israel and to withdraw their invitation to the Israeli Rugby team. Nelson Mandela would have been very angry with them. You can take the girl out of Britain but, well you know the rest! For reasons unknown it's very popular to criticize the British royal family at the moment. But here are a few small facts. Since his coronation is on a Shabbat King Charles has invited the chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom to stay in his private home so that Rabbi Mervis can be in the coronation ceremony without breaking Shabbat. Indeed, the former Chief Rabbi, the late Jonathan Saks, was a frequent visitor at the Palace and an advisor to Her Majesty. The oil that will be used to anoint the King at the coronation is from trees on the Mount of Olives and has been blessed by the various Christian leaders in this city. Remember that when he was still Prince Charles he came both privately and officially, for the funeral of Yitzhak Rabin, and both he and the Prince of Wales (William) visited the cemetery where the King's grandmother is buried and Prince Philip came to Yad Vashem where his late mother (princess Alice of Greece) was honoured as a Righteous Gentile. Preconceived ideas are rarely accurate! Just saying. This has been a week of parties! Well not only parties, but Purim and fancy dress mean parties, and in Jerusalem one has the regular day of Purim and Shushan Purim which is celebrated in Walled cities. Purim is also one of the “foot festivals”, festivals when pilgrims come to the walled cities of the Holy Land in general and Jerusalem in particular. It all started after Shabbat and Zvi’s choir, and the fun began in earnest! My favourite part was when two couples were confronted with a pile of clothes and headgear, with which they had to dress each other using at least 4 items each. Zvi’s partner in crime, Avikam, is of similar height (2 metres) and watching them try to fit their extremely long frames into tiny clothes at great speed was hysterical! A real Purim treat! Monday night and we walked about 10 metres to the synagogue for the reading of the Story of Purim (Megillat Esther) with all our neighbours. Tuesday and after a glorious walk along the track with my friend Ronit, standing above the stunning view of the Beit Zayit reservoir and the surrounding countryside, while breathing in the clear and crisp air of Motza. Then in the evening another party. The village of Motza Illit, which dates back many hundreds of years, and our new complex decided to combine forces and throw a party! Fancy dress was not compulsory but most made the effort. It was so much fun! That day there were many knocks on our front door as neighbours sent us “mishloach manot” gifts of food and drink to celebrate Purim. Needless to say, we went knocking of their doors too so we all wound up with far too much food! On Wednesday Zvi brought up my Passover dishes, yes, I know I have a month but we are going away twice, for weekends, during that time and I like to know exactly how, where, what and when! That evening I collected Rachel and met my amazing son Gideon for supper in the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv and walked along the beachfront. Which brings us up to yesterday, Thursday and oh my goodness, what a day! At 15:00 I arrived at the entrance to Shalva, to meet Susan Wagner from Chicago, an exceptional lady who I had never met before but with whom I had shared many a Zoom Board meeting for Impact-se (https://www.impact-se.org/ ). We were met at the door by Yuval who gave us “the tour”. Although I have tried many times, I cannot even begin to explain the miracle that is Shalva. An enormous gift box of love, guidance, warmth and learning for both children with special needs and their parents and families, Shalva is exceptional. https://youtu.be/wjcgIeMVwcA We visited Dr. Dan’s Room, the studio for performing arts which we created in the name of my son Daniel, who died in a horrific accident in Central Park. https://give.shalva.org/daniel We were so excited because a music session was taking place and the children were playing a zither like instrument, plucking (tunelessly) hugely excited by their prowess, but with a special twist. Each note was accompanied by touching their heart in an expression of love. Afterward we met with Kalman Samuels, who with his wife Malki founded Shalva as a tribute to their son Yossi who is today 45 years old. From Shalva we came home and Zvi gave Susan a tour of our historic complex, then we were joined by Marcus (CEO of Impact-se) and Inbal Sheff for supper. I love cooking, love entertaining and we had so much fun as Zvi, Susan and Inbal regaled us with funny stories and jokes. The perfect end to the perfect day. Tonight, Friday night dinner, and we have some special friends coming to us, Nattie and Yolli Zonszein and Mikki and Nirit Lottan. Change of menu, starting with home made gravadlax, then Rachel’s beef recipe, roast potatoes, roasted cauliflower, a green salad and ratatouille. Haven’t thought of dessert yet but it will come to me! I know that by the time I light the Shabbat candles the table will be set, the aromas will have come to fruition, the challot neatly under their cover and I can relax until our guests arrive to hear Zvi’s beautiful kiddush, to bless the wine. As happens so frequently, this weeks Torah reading is deeply appropriate. Ki Tetsay, “as you leave” in Deuteronomy 21, describes the inability of the Children of Israel to believe in anything that is not tangible, all because Moses was busy listening to the Almighty up on Mount Sinai, they had no direction to pray and things got quite ugly, so Aaron finally gave in and allowed them to build the Golden Calf from jewels and golden possessions. That could be an allegorical description of today’s Western society, a society that worships financial success, sparkly jewels and big houses as the tangible proof of their success having divested themselves of the humility and patience required for faith. It runs the gamut of religion, few are exempt, a somewhat haughty belief that we have the right to twist things to our comfortable way of life persists. So, as I look out of my window and see the pink blossom on the almond tree, gently swaying in the breeze, I’m reminded that spring is in the air, that everything will be alright, that we must continue to hope because without it we are lost. Jerusalem remains the most fascinating, troubled and adored city, centre of our prayers for 3,000 years! Music, oh yes music. First Unicorn, the Israeli entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, sung by Noa Kirer https://youtu.be/r4wbdKmM3bQ A tribute to Chaim Topol, and the basis of our life as Jews, Tradition! The story of a different time when life was much harder yet simpler, the lines delineated, the roles clear – modern life is so much more complicated! https://youtu.be/r4wbdKmM3bQ Perhaps the sweetest, melodic, Israeli love song yet, this is a complete departure from my usual songs but one that I instantly fell in love with. Perhaps a song to a beloved woman, or perhaps to Jerusalem, you decide. https://youtu.be/ZlYO2GWT73g With love from a truly magnificent part of the earth, the place where it all began, the place we all love, turn to and pray to, whatever form that prayer takes. I wish you Shabbat Shalom, a sweet, peaceful Shabbat to forget the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Sheila

Short Term Memory?

3rd March, 2023 Shabbat shalom dear friends. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Charles Dickens We humans have a tendency toward short-term memory loss when it comes to events and the weather. We forget that things have been worse or that it snows in Los Angeles on a fairly regular basis! In fact, it snowed in Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service, in 1882, 1913, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1935, 1939, 1942, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1987, 1989, 2007, and finally 2023. What does that have to do with the undoubted unrest in Israel today? Everything. We forget that history repeats itself and predict that our world is coming to an end. I will try to rationalise our political chaos (tell me one country that is not in political chaos right now) but first, my heart goes out to the families of the victims of terrible terror attacks this week. Hillel and Yigal Yaniv z”l, two brothers aged 21 and 19 were sitting in their car next to the Palestinian town of Huwara when a terrorist drew alongside shot and killed them escaping into the territories. As a result, 400 Israeli yobbos went into the town and burnt houses and cars endangering the ordinary people of that town. It is true that the people had celebrated the deaths of Hillel and Yigal, dancing in the streets and handing out sweets, but we are better than that – there is no excuse for Jewish terrorism and I hope and pray that they will be sent to prison for their acts. Elan Ganales z”l, 26, an Israeli American who served in the IDF as a computer programmer, returned to the USA to complete his studies, and came to Israel for a friend’s wedding, was driving along the Eilat-Jerusalem highway when he was shot to death. May their souls rest in peace and Israel know no more tragedy. In his speech to the nation yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister “remembered” the quiet, dignified demonstrations when Israel pulled out of Gaza. “There was no closing of roads, people behaved and the police controlled the crowds who were against our retreat”. Short term memory loss! Roads were closed, the demonstration descended into disorder and the police were not the sweet and gentle control of which the PM tried to convince us. He also forgot that he voted for the government decision to leave Gaza. The current demonstrations have, until now, been orderly, determinedly calm, simply expressing the concern of the majority of Israelis (according to the polls) about the intended Judicial Reforms. Indeed, the majority of the demonstrators were closer to my age than the age of our grandchildren. That changed in a dreadful turn of events on Wednesday in Tel Aviv. The crowd moved forward, not violently but decided to walk through the metal police barriers in order to create a human blockade across the main artery, the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv. The police, who had been holding up the barriers decided to move back, allowing the marchers forward. Who initiated the order to throw stun grenades into the dense crowd is a matter of speculation, although apparently it came from the top, not the PM, but the Minister responsible for controlling civil unrest, one Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Since this is the day of cell-phone videos, the officer in charge was shown throwing the first ear-splitting grenade. The stun grenades did their job as several people were injured, taken to hospital, and thus the mood changed in an instant, the demonstrators were angry, not just about the government but they were now concerned for their personal safety and rather than accepting the police presence, they now resented them. We are not a people who rampage and we didn’t this time but the mood definitely changed. It may sound funny when I tell you that in the midst of the confusion of the Tel Aviv demonstration everyone looked at their Tik-Tok and saw that Sarah Netanyahu had come all the way from Jerusalem to a very expensive, exclusive hairdresser in Tel Aviv, as my father would have said “Punkt”! A few hundred people gathered outside the salon expressing their distress at the “Let them eat cake” situation. Of course, it was unnecessary provocation for her to be there during the demo but, anyway – the message went out that she was held hostage by the demonstrators and her husband held a press conference to express his dismay. In fact, there was a back door to the salon through which she could have escaped but that isn’t the point. Every opportunity to discredit the demonstrators. I have many friends, normative, law-abiding friends of every persuasion, who are proudly flying their flags and joining the demonstrations because they fear for our beloved country. Do not be drawn in by the media headlines, we will still be a shining example of democratic government with a highly effective Supreme Court, but the pushing through of the judicial amendments to cover the legal infractions of the PM and other Ministers is a deeply disturbing step. What worries me far more is the perception of Diaspora Jews that we are falling apart and they do not identify with the current government, thus affecting their formerly deep connection with Israel. Not only are we not falling apart I have the feeling that this government will not survive, the few genuine Likud Knesset Members are becoming restless and the Haredi MK’s have discovered that they are not given the power they contemplated by joining the coalition. It is my firm belief that this situation will disappear into the sweet, ethereal realms of the short-term memory until the next time! Like snow in LA we forget that history repeats itself, but now everything is recorded on our cellphones! It has been suggested that tourism and our economy will fail, don’t worry, it hasn’t and it won’t – this is a glitch not a disaster! Everyone will be here for their Pesach (Passover or Pascha) sojourn all over Israel. After all Passover is one of the “foot festivals” the pilgrimage festivals of climbing the Jerusalem Hills to pay homage at the Holy Temple. Zvi came back from his travels, tired and delighted with his time with his Mexican family, friends and old schoolmates. One of the most important aspects of his journey was to sit with his cousin Billy, in Mexico City, and go over his family tree. The son of two lone Holocaust survivors, Zvi has never known grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins, all his many “cousins” are distant or through marriage, a lonely but all too frequent repercussion of that tragic, cruel period. Yesterday Zvi sat at the computer carefully typing from the scribbled notes as he sat with his much loved cousin and was amazed to discover the large family he never knew and the few who survived. Most fascinating were the stories that accompanied their arrival in Mexico. His father, the wonderful Kalman, was the only one who actually came to the nascent State of Israel in 1935, those who stayed perished and the remainder of the family emigrated from Poland to Mexico. He will finish putting it all together once his jet lag has passed and hopefully send it to his children and his wonderful, ever widening family in Mexico. Last Friday I decided to stay home for dinner, but only after going to Rachel’s for my hugs and Rachel’s incredible home made Challah. She really is a champion baker and best of all, she makes enough for any friends who are unwell. What a woman! Shabbat went quietly, our friend Efrat came to visit and we went for a long walk on the rocky path to the view over the reservoir. Oh the spring flowers! It was truly uplifting and brought our concern at the political situation back down to earth as we saw with our own eyes the miracle of both nature and the beautiful, tree covered land in which we live. That night my granddaughter Ayala came to stay and we had some special time together which included shopping of course. Not to be outdone, the next night Yosef decided to stay over to have his “Safta” time. It never fails to amaze me that even aged 18 he thinks I am cool! Tuesday and finally, at long last, Zvi came home! He is jet-lagged, but thrilled with his journeys. Wednesday was a very special day. Our lovely friend Merle Friedman invited me to join her for an event at Yvel, the phenomenal pearl jewellery creations founded by Orna and Isaac Levy. Oh my goodness. First of all we were amused by Tami Sirkis, daughter of Ruth Sirkis the mother of Israeli culinaria, then a tour of Yvel. The “give-back” projects of Orna and Isaac include the training of new immigrants, giving the tools to be independent. I cannot adequately describe so will give you this link to discover for yourselves. https://megemeria.com/our-story/ Yesterday I saw two very special women. A late coffee and wonderfully enjoyable time, sitting in the spring sunshine at the Harim patisserie with Raaya Kahana, an amazing woman, former head nurse at Hadassah and now retired she has become an accomplished sculptress. Later Daniel’s close friend who we all adore, Alex aka Poodle, came to us to visit. Zvi usually disappears when my friends come round but with Poodle, well, he adores her just as much as Rachel and I!! And so to today. Of course, Zvi will go to his parliament, having brought his friends Mexican, tequila filled, chocolates and I will visit Rachel and the children, travelling over Samuel’s Tomb, with the best view of Jerusalem’s mosaic of white buildings covering too many hills to count. I will then come home to decide what culinary delicacies to provide for our Shabbat dinner here with Ehud and Gigi. You already know how much I love the atmosphere as Shabbat nears. It is as if everyone prepares for a day of rest, whether the secular shabbat picnics and tourism of Saturday or the prayers of a Shabbat in the synagogue, the intense family of Friday night is so apparent, so tangible, it warms one’s heart. It isn’t about the food yet somehow it is always about the food, the food of our ancestors, the food of our dispersion, the food that our parents and grandparents, all our antecedents prepared and ate. The manna from heaven of two challot, the poverty that created foods that have more vegetables than meat or fish, the foods that tell our grandchildren where we came from yet with a modern twist of Polish/Moroccan/Kurdish/Greek/Tunisian fusion. Purim is around the corner, the non-woke story of a beautiful young woman, her clever and wise uncle and a King who expected his wife to dance naked before his drunken buddies. Vashti’s brave refusal to dance led to one of the most fascinating stories – the saving of the Jewish people from the plans of the wicked King’s vizier Haman. Queen Esther, her Uncle Mordechai, King Ahasuerus and the wicked Haman in the city of Shushan, Persia. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645995/jewish/The-Basic-Purim-Story.htm Going back to the theme of short term memory and the Jewish people, there are huge celebrations all over Israel during Purim, not just eating three cornered delicacies (like Haman’s hat) but after reading the Story of Esther one is commanded to drink enough wine to be merry (not drunk) so that one cannot distinguish between the wicked Haman and the wise Mordechai – in other words not to wallow in past tragedies but to move on. Cities and towns hold an “Adloyada” which split into actual Hebrew is Ad Lo Yada” or until you cannot know – again invoking the rule of memory loss. We cannot always look back, we must know of the past but move into the future which is the most important message of this festival. Trust me, we will survive even this! We have survived attempted annihilation by oppressors and internal strife which cost us two Temples, we will survive this too. All we need is to lose our short term memory and just get on with living, living in gratitude at a truly magnificent nation, the State of Israel. What many of us cannot put into words the lyricists of these wonderful songs have done for us. One of Israel’s most famous songs from way back when, probably the two but last last upheaval in Israel, is Eretz Eretz Eretz sung by Ilanit. Just absorb the lyrics https://youtu.be/nQ9XVBg6K7Q The next song is for those who find it necessary to hold Israel to standards that they do not expect from their chosen domicile. Ayn Li Eretz Aheret – I have no other country. A haunting melody with words that hit home. Those of you who decide that Israel is not democratic and you lost your faith – c’mon! A little bit of self-examination is in order. Anti-semitism is rampant in the country of your choice, it is a pandemic far more dangerous than Covid, don’t buy into the woke cant, we are everything that expresses democracy; our vociferous claim that democracy is challenged by the current government is the very proof of a thriving democracy. Tell me that your government is perfect and I’ll let you off the hook. https://youtu.be/pyFK0m-OGNo There is a wonderful song from the musical Carousel, a song, an anthem and a prayer. You’ll Never Walk Alone, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, music by Richard Rogers https://youtu.be/3DTbUVknshA We have to stick together, irrespective of which way you pray, if you pray at all. Those of us who cherish the right to be who we are without fear, just remember, united we stand and divided we fall. At the risk of being repetitive, this country is everything we wanted, everything we dreamt of when we were dispersed to the four corners of the earth. Complacency is not in our nature, we are not lulled into a stupor of comfort, we are feisty because democracy is so vibrant that we can be feisty, we can kick back against what we don’t like and support situations that other support. I am happy to say that Zvi is back sitting at his computer beside me, it just feels right! Next week is going to be very special but you will have to wait to find out why! Shabbat Shalom dear friends from the most beautiful city in the world, the city that is so precious that it has 70 names in the Bible. From the rolling hills to the ancient walls, from the steeples and minarets to the thriving, exciting modern city, I wish you a peaceful, contemplative weekend. With love Sheila