Shabbat Shalom Peace be with you

 

29^th December 2023

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

I can’t help thinking about the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1992 when she described the year as “Annus Horribilis” I think it is safe to say that this has been annus horribilis for Israel and for the Jewish people throughout the world. Right became wrong and cruel became acceptable, the world turned upside down.

 

I woke up this morning determined to write a positive Shabbat shalom, to find stories that lift our spirits, and then I read an article sent to me by Kinneret Chaya’s sister Nitzan. I tend to avoid most articles in the New York Times because their negativity toward Israel depresses me but this article depressed me for a very different reason; it is terrifying in its honesty describing what happened to women and girls on the 7th of October. No holds barred. So honest that it comes with a warning, it is essential reading and every single women’s organisation should be forced to read it before choosing to ignore the diabolical events of that day. Me Too? No never, ever like this. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html?mwgrp=a-dbar&smid=em-share

 

Something we all know, we all saw, is that the Palestinians do not receive the aid sent by all your donations – and ours Musa Abu Mazourk is a Hamas leader. He wrote. “The aid that comes to Gaza must be distributed to the resistance fighters and what remains is then distributed to the people. The attempt of some citizens to seize aid, as happened today in Rafah, will be fought with all force, and the people must offer what is expensive and what is cheap for the sake of the resistance, not steal the food of the resistance” In other words, either join Hamas or your family starves.

 

Another blogger, @hodajanat wrote

Suddenly we discovered that Gaza, which is inhabited by 2 million people... has 36 hospitals. There are Arab countries with 30 million citizens and do not have this number of hospitals.

Suddenly we discovered that Gaza was getting water, electricity, gas, and fuel for free from Israel.

Suddenly we discovered that Gaza was receiving $30 million a month from Qatar alone

And $120 million a month from UNRWA, $50 million a month from the European Union, 30 million dollars a month from America. There are Arab countries drowning in debt and cannot find anyone to help them, even with one million dollars.

Suddenly we discovered that Gaza was not besieged, and all goods were entering it, as were foreigners and people of foreign nationalities. Its residents were traveling to Egypt and from there to the rest of the world, and Fafo is the biggest example.

Suddenly we discovered that Gaza was living better than many Arab countries...and its people were living better than many Arab peoples.

Suddenly...we discovered that our minds were besieged by a programmed lie...by the (Muslim) Brotherhood media

 

Armenians have had a presence in Jerusalem since in 1915, after the Armenian genocide, many Armenian Christians found refuge in Jerusalem and formed the Armenian Quarter with it’s beautiful, open churches. Sad to say that this week, masked Moslems beat up Armenian priests leaving some in critical condition in Hospital. Where is the outcry, as usual absent, for them and not for us.

 

I hope I can now get to my promise to myself to tell you about the positive and try my very best to stick my head in the sand for a few moments. As I have explained many times, the Druze communities in Israel, the Israeli Druze, are not only incredibly loyal, not only fine soldiers in the IDF, but feel great empathy with the Jewish Israelis. Not for the first time a restaurant in one of the Druze villages has gone kosher, in the past it was for tourists, but now, in the midst of the war, one Druze restaurant has not only gone kosher but is giving free meals to soldiers. It warms my heart. https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/article-779574

 

Not everyone is against us! Not all Moslems hate us! Moderate Moslems are speaking out and Dalia Al-Aqidi knows what she’s talking about. Being an Iraqi journalist, she has witnessed the horrible acts both Al-Qaeda and ISIS did in her country. And still, “what ISIS and Al-Qaeda have done combined, cannot be compared to what Hamas has done to the Jewish people”, she tells us.   https://youtu.be/N5UVBRPLk2A?si=pTuHNav5IM664K9N

 

At the risk of repeating myself, Israelis, of all creeds, have amazed me. I am so proud to be a part of this incredible country and incredible people. Through the sadness of funerals of heroes that lost their lives, their short lives, thousands leave their jobs, literally thousands arrive to support families they have never met yet feel a deep empathy with. Add to that the myriad of good deeds, the barbecues for soldiers, meals for displaced families, knitted hats for soldiers, opening up their homes for families whose homes were destroyed, cooking for the Shiva, the 7 days of mourning, going to Hostage Square through rain and shine to support the families of the hostages, I could go on and on. We are a caring people, a caring army fighting to keep this tiny tract of land. Gosh I am so proud of everyone, except our government of course!

 

I wish you could all read Hebrew because several articles in the local press have celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the founding of our Historic Building, right here on our estate. It really is gorgeous. Built in the style of the White House (really!) but in wonderfully pinkish beige Jerusalem stone, it was the convalescent home for the Union and for those who had influence. Situated in a glorious park with views toward Ein Kerem and Jerusalem, with the finest air in all of Israel, we are the luckiest people in the world that our estate, 230 families of all ages, got to live here.

 

Actually, as I believe I told you before, the White House, is only part of Arza’s history. Long before the convalescent home was built, a certain gentleman by the name of Theodore Herzl came to visit and planted a tree. He was told that the sapling was a beautiful cypress, but in fact it was a simple fir tree, which was actually cut down by the cohorts of Haj Amin El Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem and friend of Hitler. The planting of the tree led to the forming of the Avenue of the Presidents alongside our veranda. The steps leading down the side of the hill sport the trees planted by most subsequent Presidents and just around the corner, to the right at the bottom of the steps is one of many pill-boxes guarding the main Tel Aviv Jerusalem Road. We live amidst history!

 

Friends are coming to Israel, volunteering, going south to support the few residents still there, to understand the destruction left behind by the Hamas attack and going North where Hezb-Allah is pounding towns and villages. Yes, as if what happened to the South and is happening in Gaza wasn’t enough, the North is also suffering rockets and missiles on their heads. Most towns have been evacuated but the farmers of the kibbutzim, moshavim and egg producing chicken farms have no choice but to return and feed the animals, those that have not fled or been killed, and for one farmer, to keep Israel supplied with eggs. A few missiles came from Syria too. Add to that the renewed Houthi piracy of ships Bab el Mandeb. Houthis, whose real name is Ansar Allah, are so named after Badr-al-din el Houthi, declared war on Israel but all their drones and missiles were shot down by US ships in the Gulf, so they changed their tack and concentrated on what has been described as the worst shipping bottleneck in a determined attempt to draw the USA into the war. By the way, yes, I know I am obsessed with this war but then it is obsessed with us.

 

Israelis love CNN’s John Vause Not just for his fair reporting back in the 3nd Intifada, but for his tears two days ago. John couldn’t hold back his tears on air on Tuesday while reading a letter from the mother of Israeli hostage Noa Argamani. Liora Argamani wrote, to President Joe Biden. "I am terminally ill with Stage 4 brain cancer. All that's running through my mind before I part ways with my family forever is the chance to hug my daughter, my only child, one last time." She further wrote, "I want to get to see my Noa at home." Since John was our neighbour and dear friend during his time in Jerusalem, I’m not surprised.

 

What amazes those who come is that life goes on, not as usual, far from it, but we all go out to restaurants, meet in each other’s homes, do all of the things I have outlined above and best of all meeting old friends and showing their support. Support, a smile, a letter, a note, a phone call, all make a huge difference to our lives. In fact, your reading what I write, what many of us write, is of huge importance to our morale. Just as we feel that we are not just forgotten but that the worst day of our lives has brought condemnation, not of Hamas but of Israel; when the torture is blamed on us, and then a few words in Facebook, or an email or WhatsApp, give us hope that everything will be alright.

 

We are having a quiet Shabbat, just the two of us, to rest before Zvi’s big week. He, as part of the Jerusalem Symphony Choir, is singing in a big concert at the Jerusalem Theatre on Tuesday and on Monday I am going to the incredible play, written especially for the young people of Shalva, tailored to their abilities. It makes me so proud that a project such as this came out of Dr. Dan’s Room, the studio for dance, drama and music that we established in Daniel’s name in the Shalva Centre. Zvi just left for his parliament in Caffit in the Botanical Gardens and I will head off to Rachel and the children to wish them a Shabbat Shalom and if I’m lucky, she will make me a good cuppa and a home made bread roll with egg salad for my lunch

 

And so back to the beginning. Another year has passed, thank heaven 2023 is almost over. What awaits us in the next year? Who knows but we will ultimately win through this ghastly period. A new year and new start.

 

What do I wish you for 2024?

Understanding. Above all understanding both for us and by us.

Empathy, kindness, freedom of religious expression, to be loved and love, to come together instead of fighting each other. I wish all children that they will be taught tolerance of those who differ, to be taught peace not war, living not killing. Most of all, that we be accepted, as we are, each to his or her own, without judgement or violence. To celebrate our differences.

 

Wow! What songs fit that wish? What better than 1,000 musicians and singers in the Roman Amphitheatre in Caesarea? HOME by Ehud Manor to honour the hostages and those lost in this war. https://youtu.be/XyI2GPDDLWc?si=h9F2nrNA7kcobjsz

 

Shiri Maimon and Tamir Greenberg sing “I’m Coming Home” to honour the hostages and the soldiers who are fighting for our very existence. “Let the rain wash away the tears of yesterday” https://youtu.be/0ieaEZaknss?si=jQW7Eb-D3B3NvMy3

 

I played this song once before but it is worthy of many times. Yaakov Shwekey singing the prayer for the soldiers of the IDF, as he said “The best soldiers in the world” https://youtu.be/suKZK8O_x2s?si=jgw6oo0keKZk5f4X  If I have one prayer for 2024 it is that the soldiers of the IDF will serve their time in peace not in war.

 

I wish you a “Good Shabbes” a weekend of good news, of safety to be who you are, whoever you are.

 

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80 days of Miluim

 

26^th December 2023

 

Happy Boxing Day!

 

Do you remember the word “miluimnikim? The reservists who volunteer to serve in the IDF and have been an essential part of the troops fighting a tough battle in Gaza, a fight to remove the oppressive, cruel, actually diabolical regime of Hamas? Well, let me explain something, each of these heroes has a family, they left businesses, studies, law offices, medical practices, restaurants, in fact just about every type of work, they just dropped everything without a selfish thought in their heads, because they knew that their fight was just. They had to stop the strong possibility of October 7^th becoming a regular occurrence. For many of them they left their families without a breadwinner, their businesses are failing and the war must continue until Hamas is wiped out. I felt the need for you to understand that this is not an army of regular soldiers fighting a battle overseas, this is a citizen’s army of people, men and women, who know that the enemy is on our doorstep. Their sacrifice is ultimate and some have not been home in the 80 days of fighting, or maybe popped home for a few hours before returning to the field.

 

When I write that this is a people’s army, I mean a real people’s army. Men and women from every walk of life, irrespective of professor or street cleaner, come together in a mixed unit. That is particularly true of tank units, but also of the soldiers in the field, those who risk and lose their lives every minute of every day. The IDF is the greatest social leveller imaginable and the relationships formed during their army service remain throughout their lives. The number of serious injuries is frightening, but they all get the absolute support of the people, the IDF and the social services for the rest of their lives.  When this cruel war is over, it will be fascinating to see if their political differences, those that created a frightening split in our society, will return or dissipate in the rubble of Gaza.

 

A few minutes ago I received a message from a dear friend that her son in law is in Soroka Hospital, the hospital that received the bulk of the injured. He is in critical condition with head injuries and the family is around his bed, praying and supporting.

 

Yesterday Zvi and I had lunch with old friends, Stanley and Charmaine Roth and Harold and Rebecca Finger who are here from far off Sydney, Australia with a Keren Hayesod Mission; the third couple to complete our table were Inbal and Marcus Sheff. Marcus is the CEO of Impact-se (https://www.impact-se.org/ ) of which I am the proud Chairperson of the Board and yesterday, we were all fascinated listeners as Marcus answered Stanley’s questions, explaining the critical importance of Impact and school education so clearly shown to us recently. After October 7^th, the correlation between hate education and terrorism has become an important subject in the international forum and Impact’s success in changing the school curriculum of many countries, such as the Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, even Qatar, replacing hate with tolerance has come to the forefront in many countries. Impact-se has all the necessary reports, showing a clear correlation between school textbooks and violent hatred and our next project is to produce a viable alternative to the UNWRA/ Palestinian Authority/Hamas curriculum. I was so proud of Marcus but even more so of the Roths and Fingers who never fail to support Israel in every way possible.

 

We were deeply distressed to hear of the increase in anti-Semitic incidents and lack of sympathy for the horrors of October 7^th. It was unimaginable that such things would happen in Australia, but they are – but then these incidents are happening all over the world and as I listened to Charmaine and Rebecca’s distress, repeated by Canadian, American and British Jews, I feared for the future of so many communities. Perhaps he deepest hurt comes from the women’s organisations that care not a jot about the vile and violent rapes of Israeli women by Hamas.

 

It is far from being a Jewish problem. I was sad to see that several stores on London’s Oxford Street closed their doors, dimmed their Christmas lights as the pro-Palestinian rally chose to ruin London’s Christmas. It made me sad and mad since apparently to be pro-Palestinian means sucking the joy out of everything. Actually that self acclaimed, ”quintessential, queer, English Jew”  Stephen Fry, the oh so brilliant Stephen Fry, decided to record a somewhat regal Christmas message declaring his dismay at the changes in the country that welcomed his grandparents, but in a wonderfully eloquent, regally British manner.  https://youtu.be/G7uUGJhiehM?si=FruX59zRdkiEBBrK

 

Colonel Richard Kemp is also very British, a veteran of Afghanistan and a firm and constant defender of the IDF which he has described as the most moral army in the world. Here he writes about the influence of Hamas. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-779122

 

Orange County, Florida, may just as well have started burning books as they purged nearly 700 books from their school libraries. They deemed Saul Bellow’s Herzog and Rebecca Walker’s Black, White and Jewish as unsuitable since they are deemed offensive for public and school libraries. In other words, any reference to Jewish life.

 

Issa Anis Kassisiah has a very important role in Jerusalem – he is the Jerusalem Santa and instead of Rudolph he rides a camel! For many years now Issa brings a smile and lots of joy to children and adults like in the city. Indeed, Issa, a Jerusalem Christian, is the only certified Santa in town! He studied at the Charles W. Howard Santa School in Michigan and each year he opens his house, which is filled with every imaginable Christmas favour, a sleigh, Sata’s workshop, chocolates, candy canes and of course Santa’s workshop, all open to the public. Normally he has about 25,000 visitors but this year perhaps 10,000.

 

Dr Zohar Raviv (no relation) talks about October 7^th that it must not be yet another horrific event in our Jewish timeline of victimhood. Jewish living is the identity not defensive by nature but of the ever living people L’Haim! https://youtu.be/mfDZDprdxjU?si=edjhfca2j9bapkFN

 

Omer Adam is a highly successful Israeli singer and a total mensch. When reservists go home for a few hours, their home could well be a long bus ride from base, cutting short their time with their family. Omer Adam decided that his contribution to the IDF would be to pay for taxis to take soldiers back to base. His incredibly generous thought has already cost him nearly 2 million shekels but has brought  few precious extra moments to those who put their lives on the line for us.  

 

I have returned to knitting! It is actually very calming, an essential aspect when watching the 24/7 news, hearing the names of the fallen soldiers, understanding the number of families that have lost their fathers and of course seeing that orange warning that pops up telling us which towns are under red alert. So you see, knitting is a good thing, especially since I am knitting warm hats for soldiers to wear under their helmets since it gets very cold at night, both in the North and the South. Until now I haven’t joined one of the social knitting groups because I love the emotional attachment as to who gets the hats and so far they have all gone to the children of friends. It started with Tomer and Sheli whose hats await their visit home from the north; my neighbour’s son has been home just three days out of the 80 days of this war; Hannah and Danny’s son came home for a few hours and he got one too, they all got special portable cellphone chargers from Zvi, to share with their unit. As a “reward” we received a video of Hannah’s son walking in the door and his children running to him in excitement. Whatever we do is not enough to thank them for their devotion and bravery.

 

Shalva, the concept, the fact and the place all represent hope; hope for change and making the best of what we are given, turning fear into joy. Here the Shalva Band sings for evacuees, returnees and the families of hostages, indeed for all of us. This is a song normally sung at the entry of Shabbat but the words ring true any day of the year and express hope for the coming year. Shalom Aleichem, Peace be with you  https://youtu.be/EBoMYQu8sDo?si=8x9M1Wc5yF5Emgi2

 

Four years ago Koolulam was in Kibbutz Be’eri and recorded this beautiful song. Nobody could predict how appropriate it was to be as Be’eri was destroyed on October 7^th  “One Day”  https://youtu.be/EuHwoz8K3tM?si=y4IhqXNUQQ8QuH1O

 

I wish you a peaceful, loving Tuesday, until we meet again for the Shabbat Shalom missive

Sheila

 

 

   

 

Shabbat Christmas and bicycles

 

22^nd December, 2023

 

Shabbat shalom and a very Merry Christmas to you all!  Merry Christmas, Bon Noel, Hyvaa joula! Feliz Navidad! Nadolig Llawen, and of course a hopeful and much kinder New Year.

 

I woke up this morning to find that one of the requests from the refugees from the South of Israel is bicycles; children’s bicycles. Why on earth would people who have lost everything, who currently have no homes to go back to, who lost family members, why bicycles? Because it is the thing that their children most miss, the ability to just get on a bike with friends and feel free, not just to be enclosed in a hotel room with five other people. The feeling of freedom is more than being able to go where you want, for children who grew up on farms, kibbutzim and villages, it is getting on a bike and feeling the wind in your face.

 

Negotiations are continuing to release the remaining hostages. We understand that it means releasing security prisoners “with blood on their hands”. The Israeli security prisons have, for many years now, become the cerebral intelligence network of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah. Marwan Barghouti, who led the 1^st and 2^nd Intifadas, has long been known as the brains behind the planning of further attacks by Fatah and a “community” leader within jail. Israel refused insistent demands to release him for Gilad Shalit but Yahyeh Sinwar was released and instead of an Intifada, this vile excuse for a human being masterminded October 7^th. This is a security Catch 22 whatever way one looks at it. Since prisoners in Israel, even mass murderers, are given every right demanded by international law. They meet to pray, they meet to eat, they meet during open-door time and they are allowed cell-phones, to say nothing of conjugal visits. These rights give them ample time to plan attacks. Why the preamble to my next statement? Because the world needs to know. To release prisoners whose crimes were so great that they received sentences, like Barghouti, of 127 years, for murderous attacks killing may Israelis, may sound insane, but that is the demand of Hamas to save our hostages, those who are still alive, and the picture on everyone’s mind is that of the Bibas family, a young mother grasping her two little red-headed babies to her breast, her face contorted in fear.

 

Last week I wrote to you about the Director of a Gaza hospital admitting that his hospital was a centre for Hamas. Well, here you see him spilling the beans, freely and openly to the Israeli Secret Service. https://youtu.be/aUesVWAOUbM?si=wQCAD2s3OMz5O_cA

 

Mothers of hostages were invited by Donna Karan to speak at an event in New York. Outside the event anti-Israel protesters banged on doors to interrupt the speakers and in the end these women, mothers whose children were kidnapped, raped, held in dire conditions, could only leave the event under police protection. What is the world coming to? This is New York City!! Manhattan! The most sophisticated, cultured city in the world? I think not.

 

Hillary Clinton, who had a huge wake up call after October 7^th, said that the parents, families of hostages should ask Hamas for a Christmas release of hostages, as if Christmas holds any importance for these radical Moslems. In terms of the West, it was a fine suggestion, but probably the most naive belief that brought a wide and wicked smile to the faces of Hamas. They know not anything about this season of kindness and good will because they have none.

 

There are several organisations which go south, even into Gaza itself, to bring relief and a barbecue to the soldiers, young and old, who are fighting a cruel and tough guerilla battle. I told you about Chabad, but they are far from alone. Each evening, food trucks and private cars, loaded with meat and salads, head south, set up their portable barbecues and bring cheer and music to the soldiers. One particular story touched my heart. A 14 year old boy took his hard saved pocket money and then collected from anyone he could and with the help of his parents he cooks for the soldiers! Children in Israel are so much more grown up and responsible than children in the rest of the West. I’m not sure whether it is the preparation for the responsibility of IDF service or whether it is the fact that they are so free and rather than being driven everywhere they walk or catch buses, be it school or going to friends. Independence is a very important part of their upbringing.

 

Just in case you think that UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, is even handed in its care for children all over the world, think again. It is all over the world except Israel. The Shurat haDin Organisation made calls to UNICEF in several countries asking to send donations specifically to help Children in Israel during this war. One responder actually claimed that Gaza is Israel! I am rarely shocked these days but this really shocked me to the very core. https://youtu.be/IGktjz6gHDo?si=_9ILli5ybAyvb6WA

 

This is the time of year for Christian tourism. Normally Christians throng to Bethlehem, Nazareth, Haifa and many Christian sites around the country but, sadly, not this year. Bethlehem will be deserted on Christmas Day, the pews of the Church of the Nativity, atop a hill in Bethlehem, are usually filled to capacity but no-one is coming on pilgrimage, there are few flights for those who choose to come anyway. The Christian community of Bethlehem itself has dwindled to 15% of the citizenry and it makes me sad. Christmas trees are still given to Jerusalem’s Christians by the municipality as in every year; the Carol Concert will almost certainly take place in the Brigham Young University concert hall; the bells of the churches of St. John, the YMCA, the Dormition and the Scottish Churche will ring out but like JK Rowlings Dementors, the joy has been sucked out of this Christmas. My childhood memories of Santa, decorating our neighbours trees, Carollers and wonderful parties still remain strong in my mind though. Rabbi Leo Dee, who lost his wife and daughters in a horrific terror attack, used to live in London, this is what he wrote on the subject https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-778911

 

Someone wrote this week about the difference between most wars that the USA has fought, is that while those wars took place thousands of miles from home, this one is on our doorsteps and in our homes.

 

Protection of communities “If I am not for me, who is” has become an essential part of Jewish life. Rabbi Jeremy Rosen writes this week about just that subject and the ineffective quiet diplomacy as opposed to the highly effective CST in the UK. Well worth reading https://jeremyrosen.com/2023/12/if-i-am-not-for-me.html  

 

In the meantime, life goes on in a very Israeli way. I met some friends in Tel Aviv this week, in a large shopping mall in Ramat Aviv and it was full to the gunnels, especially all the restaurants. Tel Aviv which suffers many missiles each day! It is a peculiarly Israeli way of telling our enemies that we are strong, resilient and will not be cowed – and of course that food is the most important element in any Israeli family, be it at home or in a restaurant it must be a culinary delight. As a people watcher I enjoyed watching friends gathering, probably talking about the “matzav” the situation, almost certainly about the government and of their concern for both our soldiers and of course the hostages and their families. We are a people that needs to be together.

 

Once upon a time, Aviv Gefen was a rebel, not just a rebel he wrote songs about his generation, using words that should not be heard in polite society! As the nephew of Moshe Dayan, himself a rebel, it seemed incongruous but now, Aviv Gefen the family man has changed, done a 180 and spends a great deal of his time talking to and entertaining soldiers and the families of hostages. Here, singing a song that he wrote with released hostage Mia Leimberg, I’m sure you remember her arrival back home with her little white dog, a Shitz Tzu named Bella,  bringing a smile of relief to all who saw her. Well Mia loves to sing and she just made a music video with Aviv Gefen. I couldn’t find a translation but I don’t think it matters! The song Black Sunrise, “Children woke to a morning without playing in the garden and since then it doesn’t leave us”  https://youtu.be/SqlqoDFBiJY?si=YSE86jus4IesIPyz

 

This rendition of the blessing for the soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces is so special I couldn’t resist the sweet voice of the singer Neriya Granot  https://youtu.be/UlGy2nPg9uQ?si=o4X3qj0KKzymL6af

 

To end, Tom Jones, Dylan Thomas, the Treorchy Male Voice Choir and A Child’s Christmas in Wales way back in 1970. As they say, “You can take the girl out of Wales but not Wales out of the girl” https://youtu.be/tfDnCYN015c?si=Glpge0yLfPkwqkx3

 

This is a time when we must celebrate our similarities, forget our differences and stand up for our beliefs, beliefs that echo our determination to pray as we see fit. Ride may come before a fall, but pride in who and what we are make us stand tall, form a defensive circle holding hands and looking outward. I wish you Shabbat Shalom and a beautiful Christmastide filled with blessing and promises for a better future. I pray that the hostages will soon come home, that we will lose no more soldiers and that the families of those who lost their sons and daughters will be consoled and that somehow, who knows how, the tide of hatred will be stopped by a wall of love.

 

I send you love from Jerusalem, so precious to us all,

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midweek

19^th of December 2023

 

Shalom, shalom

 

OK I admit it, I have been putting off writing to you. After the tragedy of Friday I cannot bear to even think about the families of the three young men, three hostages who somehow succeeded in escaping their captors, who were mistakenly killed by our own troops.

 

Perhaps I should start by explaining that the rules, the absolute rules of the IDF that even when faced by an enemy who is clearly unarmed and holding a white flag, is to down arms, to cease all fire. Having said that, these soldiers had been involved in fierce fighting, scouring houses with booby trap and terrorist cells around every corner and doorway for two months solid. I’m not excusing their reckless behaviour but at least one of them was traumatised to the point of being terrified, so that even when his senior officer yelled to him to cease fire he continued. After surviving 70 days of dire conditions in captivity, three young men died. Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka, and Alon Shamriz – may their souls rest in peace.

 

For anyone who doubts that hospitals, kindergartens and schools were used by Hamas as weapons stores should listen to the testimony of the Head of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Ahmad Kahlot, said that Hamas took over the hospital storing weapons in the basement and using the hospital as a base in Jabaliya. The fact is that many Hamas operatives, even those of high rank, are singing like nightingales to the Secret Services (Shabak)  and to their amazement they are treated according to the Geneva Convention for War prisoners.

 

We have known about the vast tunnel system built by Hamas with your tax money but nobody actually expected the tunnel that was discovered this week. At least 4 metres wide and 3 metres tall, 50 metres deep in the ground and 4 kilometres long, perfectly engineered by Yahyeh Sinwar’s brother Muhammed, the tunnel had only one fault – it met the solid, reinforced cement, underground wall the length of the border with Israel! The tunnel is large enough for a Jeep to drive through without any problem, its walls slid and beautifully engineered. More of your tax money! Talking of which, neatly wrapped up in plastic bags the troops found over a million dollars in dollar and shekel bills in a Hamas leader’s house!

 

As the IDF gets closer and closer to the hostages, they found a large underground chamber with evidence that many of the hostages were tied to chairs and hidden behind a plaster wall but sadly by the time the soldiers got there they had been moved. In another cruel act, Hamas released a video of three elderly male hostages, their heads virtually shaved and their beards long in the fashion of Hamas, reading a written speech. They looked thin and distressed but, if the video is as recent as we are led to believe, alive. Negotiations are underway again, to release as many as possible of the remaining hostages. It will mean releasing some serious terror offenders but time is running out and Hamas knows that the lives of the hostages is paramount, which they use against us yet again.

 

Somehow, nobody notices that while pleading poverty, Hamas has plenty of money for missiles which they are still launching with great regularity. Just in case you believe the rubbish about a siege on Gaza, staple foodstuffs have been coming through Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings. Atop the trucks Hamas operatives brandish weapons as the starving crowds rush the trucks hoping to steal something to feed their families because all the food goes to Hamas supporters! The Northern border is also subject to barrages of missiles, but the North is far more dangerous to the South because they have the power and the clear backing of Iran.

 

Of course things are not all bad, remember I told you that we are not capable of hiding in our homes trembling in fear – we still go out.

 

Zvi and I went back to the Chabad House to make sandwiches, but this time we took a friend with us. Philip Bloom is from Boston and has been coming to Israel to volunteer for months at a time for 35 years or more. The Rabbi asked Philip to light the memorial candles to the soldiers who lost their lives and take part in the prayer for their souls. Philip then told us that he had brought something very special for the soldiers. The students of the Beis Yaakov school in Boston had written beautiful letters to soldiers and although Philip had handed out several to soldiers he met, he still had many. Since Rabbi Shlomo was going down to Kibbutz Be’eri that evening to make a barbecue for soldiers he offered to take them with to the delight of the soldiers who made a special video for the students. Well done Philip.

 

Yesterday I took part in a fascinating webinar. It was an ELNET https://elnetwork.eu/  webinar Chaired by the wonderful Joan Ryan and David Hirsh was the speaker. David spoke so cleverly, without embroidery, and he answered Joan’s questions with great eloquence. As he said, October 7^th and the responses to October 7^th showed us who people really are. I am very proud that Impact-se works closely with ELNET. One of the main subjects discussed was Anti-Semitism,  how to deal with it and ultimately how do we prepare our children and grandchildren to deal with it. It reminded me of my work with AJ6, or the Association of Jewish 6^th Formers – young Jews between the ages of 16-18, preparing, writing, material to ensure that they had all the necessary information at their fingertips to draw out when needed, when faced with an anti-Semite. We brought groups to Israel and taught them everything they needed to respond. Instead of running or stammering and irrelevant answer or worse, they were prepared. Sadly, soon after I left, AJ6 was absorbed into the Union of Jewish students and disbanded, nothing to replace it. If ever it was need it is now – I beg of someone to revive AJ6 in the UK and to create its equivalent everywhere else.

 

When someone was brutally honest my father always said “He isn’t backwards in coming forwards” which could easily describe Bill Maher. I so enjoyed this particular monologue https://youtu.be/KP-CRXROorw?si=_ZikXtJ7FkwFi_3C

 

A whole slew of stars have chosen to stand with Israel by coming to Israel. They don’t take the easy route either. Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Rapaport are among them and chose to speak to the families of hostages, to visit Be’eri, to talk to grieving families and to generally raise the morale of young Israelis.

 

As Churchill said during World War 2 “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” We have a long way to go before the people of the kibbutzim, towns, moshavim and villages, the green lands of the Salad Trail of the Western Negev will be rebuilt and re-established but they will, it will just take time.

 

Ayn li Eretz Aheret – I have no other country - https://youtu.be/kiOic1JiMQA?si=HW5M-Hih0A26xkQk

 

I was thinking and thinking what music is appropriate to end this missive and no matter where I went, I cam back to the same song. Neighborhood Bully by Bob Dylan. https://youtu.be/-ETdLfXI6r8?si=5S5ByucAYC64iiRc

 

The lyrics aren’t clear as he sings them so here they are. In the meantime I wish you a good week, I hope you are all getting really excited as Christmas nears, who knows maybe with a miracle or two it really will be the season of joy and goodwill

 

Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man
His enemies say he's on their land
They got him outnumbered about a million to one
He got no place to escape to, no place to run
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully he just lives to survive
He's criticized and condemned for being alive
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land
He's wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn
He's always on trial for just being born
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him. He was supposed to feel bad
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, the chances are against it, and the odds are slim
That he'll live by the rules that the world makes for him
'Cause there's a noose at his neck and a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is given out to every maniac
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he got no allies to really speak of
What he gets he must pay for, he don't get it out of love
He buys obsolete weapons and he won't be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his side
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he's surrounded by pacifists who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn't hurt a fly. To hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep
He's the neighborhood bully.
Every empire that's enslaved him is gone
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon
He's made a garden of paradise in the desert sand
In bed with nobody, under no one's command
He's the neighborhood bully.

Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract that he signed was worth that what it was written on
He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth
Took sickness and disease and he turned it into health
He's the neighborhood bully.

What's anybody indebted to him for?
Nothing, they say. He just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like a dog waits for feed
He's the neighborhood bully.

What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers? Does he pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill
Running out the clock, time standing still
Neighborhood bully.

  

70 days, Shabbat Shalom

 

15^th December, 2023

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends

 

70 days and we are still fighting, still praying for the hostages and they still launch missiles.

 

When Churchill was asked why he bombed Dresden he answered with one word “Coventry”

When Roosevelt was asked why he bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki he said one thing Pearl Harbour”

When we are asked why are you bombing Gaza, we say “October 7^th”

 

Isaiah the Biblical proponent of peace, spoke of swords and ploughshares, and so much more. He wrote

“Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Almighty; and I will heal him.  But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

 

For some reason the world was distressed that the Hamas operative (terrorists) who gave themselves up, were stripped to their underpants. Are you serious? When there is a possibility, even probability, that they may carry explosive belts, of course they were stripped to their underpants! The most recent group to surrender their arms did so by the hundreds and were stripped only of their tops, wearing their smart jeans and shoes. The long line of men, two and three abreast, hundreds of them, who understood that they could not win this war, surprised even the most seasoned soldiers. Understand, Gaza above ground is tiny, the few towns are overcrowded, not as they would have us believe the most overcrowded in the world, because they have never been to Mexico City, Mumbai, Kolkata or even Manhattan! However the underground tunnels are vast, some say between 300 to 500 kilometres of fully equipped tunnels. Fully equipped? Built by engineers, fitted with furniture, offices, internet, everything they could possibly need – boundless, limitless facilities for terror. The darker corners of these tunnels are equipped to hold the hostages for whom the nightmare must seem endless. I just pray they have survived to be set free as soon as possible. I wonder what the price is? Since there are no less than 70 Billionaires in Gaza I think I know the answer.

 

Talking of money, many families of Palestinians depend upon working in Israel to sustain a normal way of life. Most Israeli companies that employ Palestinians, for example in the Barkan Industrial area of Ariel (considered a settlement by international consensus although a large town with a university) Palestinian workers get Israeli salaries, work conditions and medical insurance, none of which is available in the PA, a brilliant initiative led by Israel Twitto. For many of them, due to the attack by Hamas, they now have no entry into Israel, or very limited entry during the war. Hamas used the house by house intelligence gathered by Gazans who worked in Israel for the attack on October 7^th.

 

The Golani Brigade is famous for its fearless fighters. We have lost so many in this war that it has shocked all of us to the very core. The number of Golani regular soldiers lost is 88 and the number of officers lost is 103. As I have told you many times, in the IDF the officers lead the men and women into battle, they do not direct from behind. The number of soldiers we have lost including 7 October is a terrifying 444 including the tatspataniot the young women lookouts of October 7^th. Indeed in this war more women soldiers have died than any other.

 

Every minute of every day our hearts are with the families of the hostages, both those who returned and those who are still in unknown and terrifying conditions. Those who returned are beginning to tell the stories of constant fear, suffering, starvation, rape and so much more. The children were told that nobody cared and no-one would come to save them, surely a scar on their lives forever, much more than the beatings and hunger. I cannot imagine hearing of the terror stories and the sadness of the families. Sadly, more and more bodies of hostages and soldiers are found as the IDF goes further into Gaza. Just this morning it was announced that 3 more bodies were found. I don’t know how to translate the Hebrew word “Achzariut”. The direct translation is cruelty, but it is so much more. Hamas not only took live hostages they are also body snatchers, caring only to terrify Israelis, the purpose of terrorists. It is important to understand that they don’t care if they kill, capture, afflict, torment, persecute only Jews. They care not if their victims are Jew, Moslem, Christian, Hindu, it is enough that they are Israeli.

 

Israeli top brass, political and military, met with Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric in the IDF HQ this week. She was given essential medications for the hostages with a demand that the Red Cross perform the duty for which it was formed. Of course her response was that she would try!!!

 

I am lost for words at the unbearable wokeness of the Universities in the USA but Eden Alterman sums it up perfectly. He does it beautifully, showing the stupidity of ignorance though music. Definitely one to click on!! https://youtu.be/3AgOmk7ue04?si=zHc3m4KwRH8OvtFq

 

As Christmas approaches a little Israeli girl writes a letter to Santa, begging him to bring her Daddy home. https://media.bringthemhomenow.net/media/Israeli+children+Christmas+letter+to+Santa/1_q7rq8dhj/320287072

 

In my last missive I spoke of the success of Impact-se’s CEO Marcus Sheff in convincing the Swiss Government to defund UNWRA. Sadly, the vote, which passed the lower house, was defeated by the upper house by just 2 votes. We don’t give up however, if the clear evidence in our reports of UNWRA’s incitement through the PA and Gazan schoolbooks was not enough, then we will get further proof. Actually, I am not sure that any proof with convince the Swiss well known for their false claims of neutrality! If clear evidence that 85% of terrorists are taught in UNWRA schools using their hate filled teachings is not convincing enough, then shame on them. Finland understood the need for change,  Impact-se reports are taken very seriously by the EU, UK, USA, Norway, Finland, Germany indeed almost every other country and the Swiss. Why do I think about World War 2 and their proclaimed neutrality?

 

I have enormous respect for Noa Tishbi. So much more than her beautiful actress persona, this Israel is a brilliant proponent for Israel. I still don’t understand why Netanyahu fired her but ….. just listen to her with Piers Morgan. She is eloquent, straightforward and responds beautifully. Just listen to the end, to her closing statement  https://youtu.be/qFkKw93jqAA?si=_hlErkjDY5mpnmnl  

 

Until very recently none of us, or few of us had ever heard of the Houthis in Yemen, although they have wreaked internal havoc in that country. The Houthis are a Shia Islamic terror group and they have joined Hamas/ISIS in their efforts to wipe us off the map.  Their latest acts are basically acts of piracy on any ship bound for Israel. The latest was a Norwegian cargo ship which they boarded and prevented from delivering their cargo of goods. It should be said that, like the vast majority of Gazans, they have never met a Jew, let alone an Israeli because any Jews in Yemen and Aden were thrown out in 1949/50 and 50,000 were brought to Israel  in a complex operation by the Israeli government called “On The Wings of Eagles” Indeed, the Jews of almost all Moslem, Arab countries fled and were brought to Israel which means that this generation of hatred has never actually met a Jew! I come back to Impact-se and our work to change the perception of Jews and Christians and Hindus, indeed the “other” in the schoolbooks of the Arab world, indeed the Moslem world. Again, I give you our website because it makes fascinating reading https://www.impact-se.org/

 

This week, as so many weeks before it, we were with friends almost every night. Lighting the Hannukah candles became am excuse to be together. Thursday, if you remember Zvi led the candle lighting and singing at the Khan Theatre before his concert; Friday night with Leor and family, also celebrating Amit’s 17^th birthday; Shabbat lighting with Ira, Valeri and Tomer; Sunday with the choir; Monday just Zvi and I; Tuesday at my Mind and Movement class, each of us expressing a blessing and prayer as we lit our candle; Wednesday with our lovely friends Yossi and Ronit; last night, the 8^th day we lit alone, the candlelight joining that in every window in our estate each and every one praying that their light emanating from the eight candles will bring light to our world of darkness.

 

Even in these dark times we find time to smile. This week the Israeli satirical TV show (sometimes cruelly so) was joined by American actor Michael Rapaport, who stands firmly with Israel. A very clever skit of “Hogwarts” with Michael Rapaport as Dumbledore “We are here today to discuss the question of anti-Mudbloodism in Hogwarts” for the uninitiated Mudbloods are non-wizards. https://youtu.be/jW_k-mUfzhE?si=FMvVKopGo9EGHBWD  JK Rowling understood exactly what was happening in our world when she wrote her Harry Potter series. It doesn’t take a genius to know who the Dementors are, those who suck out the joy and souls of all they meet.

 

I am thrilled to say that many friends understand that, despite it all Israel, is still a wonderful place to visit, to take part, to learn, to be here with us. The Bloomfields are here now and the Fingers and Roths are about to arrive. It is truly heartwarming. It is exactly what we need. Yes, of course the diplomats are important and their support essential but it’s you, our friends that we need to see. The strange aspect is that I feel infinitely safer here than anywhere else and so do many other friends. As an instance, Rachel and the girls, Talia and Ayala, felt like a night out and headed off to the Shouk, Mahane Yehuda. Evenings transform the shouk from alleyways of fruit, vegetable, fish, ready food and bakery stands to one huge night club/bar, full of young people from all over Israel, having fun, drinking, dancing and having fun. We are not a people that hides away in our safe rooms, we are not afraid to wear our Judaism openly and we will not be put down no matter what. Even at funerals, among the tears stars of the stage and music volunteer themselves to sing the favourite songs of those killed while defending us. Israel is different from almost anywhere else. Obviously, the funerals of the Bedouin soldiers or the Druze soldiers are different, but we refuse to sink into a communal depression, we have to fight on.

 

I’m sure that you are as much in need of good news as I am and this week we received some excellent news. Our dear friend Prof. Judit Bokser Liwerant became an emeritus Professor of Political Science at the National University of Mexico in Mexico City and received a great honour for her Excellent in Research. Judit is an expert in the history of the Jewish Community of Latin America and also lectures at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She is a member of the National Commission Against Discrimination, where she collaborated in the enactment of the Federal Law against Discrimination, condemning antisemitism. In 2002 she was appointed a member of the Human Rights Council. Judit is an exceptional person, a wonderful friend and a great example to us all. Her husband Daniel is a life-long friend of Zvi’s and I am proud to have been adopted by them as an equal friend.

 

Zvi sings with the Jerusalem Symphony Choir which joined the A Capella Ensemble to form a forge to be reckoned with! They recorded this amazing rendition of Bring Them Home. It is truly magnificent, recorded in Christ Church, Jerusalem, which has amazing acoustics. You will note that the photographs of those still in captivity are on each seat of the pews. If you watch as well as listen you will see Zvi. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O1Xx8WNgxXBLJnbIwgLsIMeB1d16-zp3/view

 

35 musicians, 35 strings from all over the world play Jerusalem of Gold in support of  “Bring Them Home”  https://youtu.be/GoEl6R5RXF0?si=yhQwuVcniXyX1mor

 

Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot has the voice of an angel. Zvi and I had the honour of meeting him, albeit fleetingly, in the garden of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, where he was attending a conference. We were struck by his humility and by his love of Israel. Here he sings the Prayer for the safety of the soldiers of the IDF. “May HE bless the soldiers of the Israel Defence Force” https://youtu.be/M354UmD1ujU?si=xdHt7l2hqzQ7xpZk

 

So we must hold our heads high, understand our similarities not emphasise our differences. Those of us who honour the Almighty, know that He wants us to stand together against evil must never give up hope or forget to stand tall against a common enemy. That enemy is not Islam it is the diabolical misinterpretation of Islam. As we near the Christmas season, the season of good will to all men and hope for our future, let’s do everything in our power to spread love, understanding, tolerance and acceptance, all of which light the world overpowering the darkness that seeks to enslave us.

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, a weekend of inner peace and joy.

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila