Trees and remembrance

 

26^th January, 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends

 

Perhaps Charles Dickens was a prophet when he wrote

“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.”

 

Surely the supreme evidence that our world is upside down is that the International Court of Justice in the Hague, an outpost of the United Nations, has chosen to pass judgement on the ludicrous South African genocide accusation against Israel on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The ultimate irony is that the International Court of Justice and the UN were created to replace the League of Nations and the Permanent Court of International Justice which were disbanded because they failed to address the Holocaust

 

The world was silent at the slaughter of Moslems in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Moslems killed by Moslems, yet when Israel defended herself after the horrendous attack of October 7^th, the entire world, led by Islamic activists, turned on us! Not the leaders, the people. Riots and violent demonstrations against Israel throughout the West, were more contagious than Covid and twice as deadly. The clouds of war are gathering and most of the Western world, Western society, is complacent and silent not understanding the words of their leaders. President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak took the decision to fight the piracy of the Houthis in Yemen, the Iranian armed terrorists, verbally backed by other countries, but just like the USA until Pearl Harbour, they did not wish to enter the fray in our part of the world until their ships were attacked. I know that you won’t like my last statement but it is sadly true.

 

The 75^th anniversary of the founding of the Knesset went without ceremony, the Members of Knesset too bound up in this war that we did not want and the Cabinet too busy ejecting the families of hostages from open meetings.

 

The most frequent accusation against Israel is that of apartheid, so, I thought I would tell you about one or two of our heroes, of beloved soldiers who fell this week. They were Filipino (Cydric Garin), Peruvian (Yuval Lopez), Ethiopian (Daniel Zegeye), Jewish (Rabbi Elkana Vizel), Christian, Moslem, Druze and Bedouin (Ahmad Abu Latif), each and every one a hero, each and every one a proud fighter of the IDF, each and every one receiving the honour they deserved at their military burial, each and every one mourned. In fact, I want to tell you all about Cydric. Cydric Garin, age 23, came from San Mateo, just north of Manila, the Capital city of the Philippines, and came to Israel with his mother some 17 years ago. Cydric was a rebellious child but after enrolling in the IDF Givati Unit, he found his niche, was immediately accepted and loved and earned an outstanding soldier award by the Southern Command. The IDF is a true melting pot of people whose love of Israel and understanding of our threats is what binds them.

 

One of the most emotional ceremonies this week took place in Kibbutz Be’eri, to be exact, in the Be’eri Forest, on Tu b’Shvat, the festival of the new trees. With the help of KKL-JNF, the families of the 364 people killed at the Nova festival and the 40 members of Kibbutz Be’eri who were taken captive, participated in a tree planting ceremony, 404 trees to form a memorial forest. Giving new life, new memories to the place where their loved ones lost their lives.

 

What is Tu b’Shvat? Tu b’Shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees".  An Ilan is an Oak tree. In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day; trees are planted in celebration and we all eat fruits and nuts each of which has a specific blessing.

 

The Red Cross came to the Israel Government demanding to check on the conditions of the Hamas prisoners in Israel. The senior members of the IDF said yes and the government almost agreed, but Itamar Ben Gvir, with whom I have little agreement, said no “Not until the Red Cross visits and reports on the condition of the hostages in Gaza” For the first time ever I agree with him. The Red Cross not only hasn’t demanded to visit the hostages, their new Director was the shamed Director of UNWRA!!

 

Not all is gloom and doom, thanks to wonderful people along the way, they are beacons of light in a dark world. Imagine a senior officer in the middle of War choosing to take time off and donate a kidney to a complete stranger. A few days later he went to meet the recipient of the kidney. The epitome of the humanity of the IDF, saving lives both in and out of uniform

Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld is the Executive Director of the American friends of Soroka Hospital, a wonderful lady and dear friend. Rachel’s husband Joel is a renowned Urologist at Sloan Kettering Hospital and they have both watched and cared for the growth of Soroka Hospital, in Beer Sheva, watching it grow from a few huts to a large and very important Medical Facility. In addition to the normal day to day activities of a hospital, Soroka has borne the brunt of the injured since October 7^th, over 2,600 soldiers and civilians, performing miracles along the way. Why am I telling you all this? Because on Monday Zvi and I headed off down the main highway to Beer Sheva and Soroka Hospital for the official opening of the Dr Joel Sheinfeld Urology Centre in Soroka Hospital. The centre is state of the art, with treatment rooms equipped with the very latest technology, a bright and hopeful centre. The obvious love extended to Rachel by the senior staff of the hospital was tangible; the fact that they all came to honour her and Joel when soldiers were being helicoptered in to the ICU every few minutes is a sign of deep respect for Rachel’s untiring work.

 

Elon Musk was completely ignorant of the facts about the current conflagration and about Israel in general. Being South African perhaps he believed the apartheid accusations? Unlike others, Elon Musk came to Israel, visited Be’eri, talked to survivors, went to Auschwitz and finally understood. In fact, his understanding reached the point of “I’m Jewish by association” Let’s see if his words will be translated into action on “X” and all the dire anti-Semitic posts removed.

 

Three short video clips of huge importance.

 

Ben Shapiro and Piers Morgan talk about “Gas the Jews” https://youtu.be/Ji9zcj9MdOY?si=eAJIxECiUDYk_VPi

 

Oded Rahav, a man of peace, speaks out “Humanity is at a crossroads”  https://youtu.be/u6z87_e9jPM?si=Hdin3M765f-m1fMf

 

Member of Knesset Boaz Bizmuth had prepared a speech to the European Parliament but instead spoke his mind. “You should be ashamed” https://youtu.be/m4uOCqv8aeU?si=VPpNRj-7Tb9h5EKS

January 24^th was World Education Day. It was hate education, the inculcation of hatred from day one, that ultimately led to October 7^th as the PA and UNWRA refused to remove hatred from their schoolbooks. Impact-se (https://www.impact-se.org/ could change all that, is prepared and ready to teach the next and following generations of Palestinians to respect the other; we just need the world to demand the way they teach their children.

 

Zvi and I returned to two very important places this week. Hostage Square, right next to the Tel Aviv Museum and the Israeli Opera, was almost empty on a Saturday morning allowing us to really look at the installations, at the faces of those at the long, long table set for those who have not returned, may not return from captivity. On Wednesday we went back to the Chabad centre in Jerusalem hoping to help with the sandwich-making again, but there was little for us to do! The place had so many volunteers that all that was left for me to do was slicing cucumbers! People from every walk of life, adults and children, special needs and just folks who want to help.  As with everything in Israel, there is a story behind the simple act of making sandwiches. A child called Li’el asked his mother for extra sandwiches each day at school, not for himself, for children who couldn't afford. He grew up to be an officer in the IDF. He was close to his soldiers and reminded them to smile because a smile lights the world. Li’el fell in battle and this project is in his name. By day sandwiches, by night barbecues for soldiers in the north and in the south https://www.jgive.com/.../usd/donation-targets/115193/about

 

I think I told you that as a result of the current situation people in our neighborhood have organised all sorts of social events, one of my favourites is “Yetsira” handicraft. One of the women heard me talk about the sandwich-making and told me that the children at her school are among the recipients, many with fathers away fighting in Gaza, and the delight on their faces at they receive their mid-morning sandwich.

 

It’s raining, it’s pouring but my old man isn’t snoring! The rain is so strong that for the first time in ages I didn’t sit out on the veranda to eat my breakfast and read the paper before doing Wordle! I missed the fresh air but there is a limit even to my resilience and British stoicism in the face of bad weather! Mount Hermon is already covered in snow, wonderful skiing snow but the usual crowds of curious visitors are kept away by the Hezb-Allah missiles. Shame really, Israelis have taken to the piste with delight.

 

And so to songs.

 

Yaron Chitiz z”l from Ra’anana fell in Gaza. Zvi went to the funeral which was attended by thousands. His father worked in Keren Hayesod in South Africa before the family came on Aliya This song was written in his honour. My thanks to Merle Friedman for sending it to me. Sim Shalom https://youtu.be/pxRb_BQ6MXs?si=S1Em_1aqTzvq6A7x

 

Yesh Bi Ahava by Arik Einstein, I have love within, is not a new song but so appropriate. I have love within and it will win.  https://youtu.be/I1Zro9rVJ-E?si=1tHXvGzljVCJ2YnK  

 

Katan Aleinu – No Problem. Israeli singers, a beautiful video, the story of our strength. We love, we hug, we help, we hold our heads up high. Even this untenable situation is “Katan Aleinu”. We have been in worse situations and we are still here. https://youtu.be/v10zZx3L9NQ?si=4W5Rry_hJOYDMMN3

 

Let’s all pray for Besorot Tovot, for good news. We must show the world that we are strong, our heads are high, Israelis, indeed all logical people, irrespective of provenance, must speak out without fear and this too will pass. Don’t forget that the Israeli national anthem is called The Hope

 

With much love from Jerusalem.

 

 

 

 

21 plus 3

 

23^rd January 2024

Midweek update

 

Israel is in mourning today after losing 24 soldiers yesterday.

 

3 officers were lost in fighting and 21 soldiers in a horrific incident while clearing a safe zone on the Gaza side of the border just 600 metres from Kibbutz Kissufim. They were so close to home, flattening buildings which overlooked the Kibbutz, which had endangered the lives of Kibbutz members each day for years. It was hoped that by creating a safe zone they could return to the Kibbutz, to their homes, those whose homes are still standing.

 

The soldiers were placing explosives, ready to clear the building when Hamas launched an RPG missile which caused the explosives to ignite before the buildings were cleared of soldiers. The soldiers who died were Christian, Jewish, Moslem, religious and secular, each and every one a reservist volunteer who gave his life defending this country.

 

Every soldier has a family, and many reservists have wives and children, and each and every one of them has a name which is read out in our news bulletins, but announced only after their families have been informed. The deep respect and gratitude toward the families is expressed in the thousands of ordinary citizens that go to each funeral, visit each home with the prayer that by enveloping them in love it will dull the obvious pain. Many more people line the route to the cemetery, holding flags as a guard of honour. We are all together in our pain.

 

Please, open this article in Haaretz. Look at the faces of the young men who died, see who they were because they died fighting against an enemy that is threatening our country, your country, all over the world; fighting the Iranian proxies whose tentacles are slowly but surely grasping the young people of the world. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-23/ty-article/21-soldiers-killed-in-deadliest-incident-for-israel-since-start-of-gaza-ground-offensive/0000018d-35af-d81e-abdf-3daf470e0000

 

I send you love and wishes for a better day tomorrow

 

Sheila

 

 

Shabbat Shalom Kfir

 

19^th January, 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Happy birthday to little Kfir Bibas who was one year old yesterday. There was a big birthday party in Tel Aviv but sadly Kfir wasn’t there. He spent his very first birthday in Gaza, a hostage to the barbarity that is called Hamas. Kfir, Ariel, Shiri and Yarden Bibas were all kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on that fateful morning of October 7^th.  There is not one person with a heart who did not cry at the sight of Shiri’s agonized face grasping those two little “Ging’ies” to her chest. In Israel posters bearing their photos are everywhere, songs have been written about them, the sane world has begged for their release, but either their captivity is considered too good a hostage or, God forbid, they are no longer alive. I know your hearts are breaking too.

 

Something I hadn’t realised is that most of the kibbutzim on the Southern border were founded by the Aliyah from South America. Soon after the founding of the State of Israel, some 70,000 young people from Jewish youth groups in South America came to Israel with the sole intention of building agricultural communities which is the central ethos of Kibbutz life. It is their descendants, their children and grandchildren who were killed like lambs to the slaughter.

 

Essential medication has been delivered to Qatar who delivered to the Red Cross who delivered to Hamas who hopefully delivered to the surviving hostages who have been without any medication for over three months. The Hamas demand that any and all medication intended for the hostages be multiplied by one thousand, yes one thousand. In other words, the medicine for Colitis, for Asthma, for heart disease and for high blood pressure is multiplied by one thousand and the international community complied. Still, we have no idea who is dead and who is alive; where they are, what their medical condition is or whether they will ever come home.

 

Piers Morgan has carefully recorded and faced Israel’s enemies over the past 105 days, but perhaps the most telling interview was with Thomas Hand who explained the situation from a personal point of view, with his daughter Emily, who was a captive in Gaza, sitting beside him, stroking her Daddy’s cheek when he became emotional. It is exceptional, heartwarming, frightening and beautiful https://youtu.be/12SJzBGTbqE?si=8gQOqp8gdvA--F8R  

 

Israel has become one big displaced person’s camp. Admittedly in hotels, fed and cared for but the thought of putting farmers, country children, kibbutznikim, into hotels in towns is painful. They all want to go home, well, most of them, those whose homes are not destroyed, but their villages and kibbutzim are still under rocket fire, both in the south and in the north. Yes, Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim that their people are starving yet have plenty of money for rockets and missiles. The North and Hezb-Allah is a different story but just as tragic.

 

Ra’anana is a wonderful dormitory town in the central region. Thriving yet in a gentle, almost sleepy way, with wonderful parks, tree lined streets and a busy shopping centre. This week the quiet of Ra’anana was broken by a ghastly terror attack in which 19 people were injured and Edna Blueshtein was killed when the terrorists stole her car at a car wash, stabbed her, and then rammed a bus stop on the main road just as children came out of school. Originally they wanted to celebrate the action of their Hamas brothers by stabbing as many Jews as possible but then decided to mow them down with a stolen car instead. Hamas celebrated of course.

 

Iran. On January 16^th 1979 the Shah left Iran, exiled by an American President who then encouraged Ayatollah Homeini to take control of that previously thriving country with vast funding for their activities. The determination to create an Islamic Empire is paramount on the minds of the Ayatollahs. Currently close to war with Pakistan and the Kurds, Iran uses proxies to fight their war in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Yemen indeed, almost every area of conflagration is controlled by Iran. If you were to look back over my newsletters I told you that for many years the body that oversaw (oversees) Iran’s nuclear facilities was headed by Mohammed El Baradei, a Member of the Moslem Brotherhood!

 

82 years ago tomorrow, German officials sat down at a table in the Berlin suburb of Wansee and worked out the final solution for the Jews. The intent of the highly documented meeting was to ensure that no Jews remained in Europe. Comparison to today’s world uprising against Jewish communities under the guise of anti-Israel sentiment proves that history does repeat itself. Anyone who blames Israel for October the 7^th has no sense of history, indeed is ignorant of what Israel stands for and is a supporter of rape, beheading, burning babies alive and all the horrors perpetrated by Hamas. Indeed they are complicit in all of the above.

 

Strangely, so many wonderful things have come out of the horror of the attack. I have written about the sense of community and the need for us to be together; about the sandwich making and the volunteer fruit and vegetable pickers; of the hat knitting for soldiers; of donations of equipment for soldiers and clothing and furniture for those displaced families, but there is so much more. A Bedouin family from Rahat who used to work in Kibbutz Nir Oz now cook up a storm of fabulous traditional food for the remaining kibbutz members who watch over the crops and flocks.  Group of Eritrean refugees who live in and around Tel Aviv went down south and set up barbecues for the soldiers as they came out for a few hours of R&R. https://www.jns.org/eritrean-migrants-barbecue-for-israeli-soldiers-near-gaza-border/

 

I don’t want you to get the impression that we sit at home, quivering in our safe rooms eating bread and water, Israelis do everything to maintain a normal life, or rather not a normal life but to show our enemies that we will not be cowed. We still go out for amazing Israeli food, although many of the restaurants once filled with tourists are now filled with Israelis. Friends are still arriving from all over the world; the lovely Rebecca and Harold Finger came to check out our veranda so that Harold could take photos to send to Stanley Roth who loves to hear about the trees and plants. On that subject the lime, lemon and kumquat trees are all heavily laden with fruit. Harold and Rebecca are here for an extended period looking for places to volunteer and as they say “to spend money here in Israel”. Such special people who really understand the importance of this tiny sliver of land to the Jews around the world in the Diaspora. Their stay coincided with an Australian Keren Hayesod study mission and although they had already visited the destroyed kibbutzim of the south, they ensured that everyone else did too.  

 

Our friend Sha’ela sent Zvi home from a meeting with a huge bag full of the great big juicy lemons from her tree!

 

Life is filled with meetings and activities from singing in choirs (Zvi), movement classes (me) creativity sessions, inviting and going to friends and doing our best to celebrate what we have.  Last Friday night was supposed to be just another delightful evening at Amiad and Noga’s home but my goodness it was so much more! As I walked through their front door, I saw an extra table in the room and with a very loud “SURPRISE” the children and adults, joined by about 8 friends, leapt out at me singing Happy birthday!! Both Leor and Amiad had cooked up a storm, including my very favourites – Amiad’s ceviche and Leor’s quiches. Zvi sang his kiddush, to the delight of all present, and we sat down to a real party. It was so wonderful to spend an evening without talking about the situation or politics, just laughing with the children who kept coming to hug me! Zvi had also been cooking, but that was cooking up a plan to get me to Amiad’s without knowing about the party! Gili, Leor and Shiri’s second daughter, made a magnificent birthday cake to round off the fabulous evening.

 

Exodus 10 (Bo) is the Torah portion this week and Jeremiah the reading from Prophets. We read about the last of the 10 plagues God brought upon the Egyptians and about the gift of a Jewish calendar (tomorrow is the 10^th of Shvat) and the law which leads up to Pesach, Passover, Pascha, and removal of all bread related foods from the house whereas reading from the Prophets reveals God’s promise to save us from our enemies. Basically, long before Islam we suffered the jealousy and hatred of our enemies but, hey folks, we are still here!!

 

Israel’s singers, from the most famous to the least known, have been going around the hospitals singing to the injured, hoping to stimulate comatose patients to wake up and to make others smile, to help the families too. Perhaps the most poignant of all is this song “Call me Gingie” about little Kfir. https://youtu.be/wId08EiSIkA?si=4ipzONrRyQKS_NlZ

 

Eyal Golan sings “Am Yisrael Chai” – the Jewish people lives. This is the spirit that keeps us going. https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=frY7hqgvRtbt37aC

 

In every Jewish home on Friday night, before the Shabbat meal, the family, or to be exact the spouse sings a song of praise to his wife! Yes really. “A woman of worth, who will find?” I love it!  Here the Chief Cantor of the IDF sings with the Rabbinical Choir of the IDF as they enjoy a Friday night supper together. https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=frY7hqgvRtbt37aC

 

Dear wonderful friends, I am so grateful to you for forcing me to think logically, to put impossible situations into words and to feel the warmth that emanates from you, dear readers. Each and every one of you that responds to my missives warms my heart in a way I cannot express. I wish you a good weekend when hatred is forgotten and kindness becomes the watchword.

 

I’m off to Rachel and Zvi is going to his parliament in the Botanical Gardens then tonight we will be with Nattie and Yolli Zonszein for our Shabbat dinner. I love our Friday routine of writing, sending, going to Rachel to see the family and eating one of Rachel’s amazing bread rolls and Zvi going off to save the world. Life is what you make it.

 

Please take care, I need you!

 

Shabbat Shalom, with love from Jerusalem, the beautiful, golden centre of our lives.

Sheila

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

100 Days - Shabbat shalom

 

12^th January, 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat shalom and Chodesh Shvat Tov – the new month in the Jewish calendar is the month of Shvat which is supposed to be the month of good news, of b’sorot tovot. Even the initials in Hebrew suggest good news is on the way; I wish it would hurry up!

 

There are so many things that I fail to understand in this upside down world of ours where right is wrong and wrong is right, and evil is rewarded, but for the life of me I don’t understand how the South African regime, one of the most corrupt and cruel regimes in the world, is taking Israel to the International Court of Justice, which by the way is yet another arm of the United Nations, and the world stands by! Of all the examples of injustice in the world right now this has to be the epitome.

 

Yesterday the lawyers presenting South Africa’s case spoke, and, sadly, quoted the miserably inappropriate ministers in Netanyahu’s government and their demands for the annihilation or exile of the Palestinians in Gaza, as if they are the policy makers of the Israeli government. Their statements were taken as proof of Israel’s and the IDF’s intent for genocide of the Palestinian people. Had Netanyahu immediately disassociated himself from their outbursts perhaps it could have helped but, you know what I feel about the fact he did not.  This is not an injunction, nor is it a legal case, it is a trial to decide if this is a plausible claim on the part of South Africa with the clear intent to besmirch Israel’s name. Today our legal representation will easily deny every claim but what if the somewhat biased panel of judges choose to accept the South African case as plausible? Then every soldier of the IDF, from Generals to Privates, can face criminal charges in any country in the world. It is an untenable situation.

 

The saddest sight today was to see the parents and families of hostages standing on the border with Gaza with megaphones, shouting their love and determination to bring their loved one’s home, just in case they may hear. Many of the hostages that were released told of how their captors kept telling them that nobody cared about them and no-one would fight for their release. Psychological torture indeed. Equally, many families of the hostages travelled to The Hague and stood in the freezing cold Dutch winter trying to make their voices heard, talking to any journalist who was prepared to hear their voice.

 

The top echelon of Hamas began planning the October 7th massacre in 2014. Each detail, every diabolical detail, was carefully planned. The workers who came over the border and were taken into homes, kibbutzim and villages, treated as family, carefully mapped every room in every home, knew who was where, which enabled the terrorists to find and torture, rape, burn and slaughter.

Never believe that it was spontaneous. It was a carefully planned with a level of evil unseen.

 

How on earth did we get to this? How was Hamas able to convince a gullible world that they are the good guys after what they did on October the 7^th? How on earth did they convince a gullible world that there was a siege on Gaza when we were providing all their staple needs? How is it possible that their leaders live in incredible luxury while the people starve and nobody sees it? The IDF reached the home of Marwan Issa, second in command to Mohammed Deif, in Khan Yunis (described as a refugee camp). They found a gorgeous modern mansion with beautiful green lawns, a fabulous pergola and swimming pool. Right there in the supposed refugee camp is a luxurious neighborhood for Hamas leaders!  Of course, he had already escaped, probably to Qatar with the others.

 

How many times do you join in the cry of “Hep Hep Hoorah” or Hip Hip Hooray? Did you know that it was the victory shout of the Crusaders? Did you know that it meant Hierosolyma est Perdita, Jerusalem is lost, the old battle cry equivalent of “From the river to the sea”? I have always hated it, tried to explain why not to use it….but thanks to our friend Stanley Roth who sent me this article, it is explained much more clearly than I ever could  https://fathomjournal.org/opinion-from-the-river-to-the-sea-is-the-postmodern-hep-hep/

 

The vast majority of Israelis pray that this impossible government will accept the latest Qatari plan to end this phase of the war and allow for the release of the hostages, those who are still alive. While demanding the end to the fighting it also demands that the Hamas leaders be exiled from Gaza. Who knows if it will work or where they will go. Ismail Haniya, the supposed head of Hamas, is living in Qatar already, and it is said that even he didn’t understand the level of evil of Sinwar. Qatar demands that no assassinations take place on their soil which raises a further question, but is this dystopian government capable of making such a decision or will the decision be taken by the War Cabinet? For the sanity and unity of Israelis, the hostages must come home, alive or in a coffin.

 

This war is wider than you think. Australia has always stood by her allies through every war, and I mean every war, and this one is no exception. Australian troops have joined British and American troops in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, to defend shipping against the Yemenite Houthi marauding piracy against any ships carrying goods to Israel. Bahrain, Canada and Holland have also sent troops. Are you aware that US and UK troops have launched rocket attacks on Yemeni towns? This BBC article explains who the Houthis are and why we, the allies, are attacking them https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67614911

 

 

Sunday will be my birthday, Sunday the fourteenth of January. Sunday will be exactly one hundred days since October the 7^th, the hostages will have been in captivity for 100 days of hell. At exactly 11:00 Israel will stand still for 100 minutes in tribute to those hostages still in the tunnels of Gaza. No buses, no trains, no shops, no restaurants, nothing. It is the people’s protest to this government to bring them home and that we are willing to pay the price, including the return of the displaced persons of the south to their homes, or what remains of their homes.

 

Walter Bingham is the world’s oldest Journalist. “I don’t realise how old I am until I pass the mirror” Walter is an incredible man, still as alert and astute as ever and he has just celebrated his 100^th birthday!  When we sat in the Jerusalem Press Club together to hear various and varied speeches Walter always asked the most pertinent and cutting questions, right up until today! I suggest that you listen to and watch this interview with Walter to warm your heart up after all of the above. https://youtu.be/FQvDSOWN8r8?si=FsY3_H6paBUh1DoK

 

Rachel and I decided to go for a walk in the nature reserve opposite our home before the rains returned. It was a glorious day, a real Jerusalem winter’s day with a combination of a hilltop chill and warm springlike sunshine as we crossed the winding road of “Sheva Achiot” the Seven Sisters, named for the seven hairpin bends as the roads winds its way down the hill. We walked the stony path with its deep runnels made by years of winter rain flowing down the grassy hill, on the search for spring flowers as we went. I admit to an obsession with those first harbingers of spring. We found but a few, although the leaves emerging from the undergrowth promised many more, a few brave wild cyclamen, the famous Israeli Tormos, a wild form of lupin, standing tall, proud of its leaves, and to complete our joy, the first almond blossom, just a few lone flowers on the bare branches of the wild Almond trees – not exactly the cloud like blossoms of next week but each individual flower gave us a sense of things to come! The culmination of our walk was the view over the reservoir below; the tree covered hills leading down to the dam in Beit Zayit, the half-filled lake it will create after this week’s rains and the vineyards, row after perfect row of vines alongside the waterline. The perfect quiet of our walk, meeting only the occasional runner or dog walker, gave us a peaceful break from reality and an emotional and spiritual refill.

 

Last Shabbat we visited Sergio and Sarah, Zvi’s cousins who made Aliyah from Mexico, to see their incredible new apartment overlooking the sea in Netanya. As promised, we went for a walk along the seafront promenade, busy with people strolling walking their dogs and just enjoying the sunshine. It never fails to amaze me how much warmer the coastal plain is compared to the Jerusalem Hills! Just a Saturday afternoon with no worries, walking along the calm sea – or so it seems. Sergio loves my soups so of course I took one with us and we sat in their beautiful salon, all the furniture and lighting, each piece a work of art, as Sarah explained that they didn’t bring anything with them because Israeli design is so exquisite – I must agree!

 

As always, I am off to see Rachel and the children in a few minutes, drawn by the aromas of her delicious cooking for Shabbat. I love sitting with the children and hearing their rapid talk about their week. It grounds me, brings me joy to see our future. After a Friday afternoon nap, we will go to Amiad and Noga and the family for Shabbat dinner. Tomorrow I may persuade Zvi to come back to the nature reserve to check out the situation of the wild flowers, in the knowledge that the almost constant rains will have filled the reservoir. On the other hand, perhaps, the path will be a muddy quagmire and we will turn back to the warmth of our apartment and a nice cup of tea.

 

For once the choices for music were easy. I hope you will love them as I do

 

Tamir Grinberg is an Israeli singer/songwriter who wrote this haunting song about the return of the hostages. A beautiful song, in English, “All I’m fighting for is to bring for is to bring you home, bring you home” https://youtu.be/wOVTFlTkwDs?si=_rq3ShYY5M6hvxV9

 

Idan Amedi doesn’t sing to the troops, he is one of the 300,000 reservists and although he could easily have made a different choice, he chose to serve in Gaza. In the terrible accident during an operation to blow up a Hamas tunnel, he was seriously injured, thank heaven on the way to recovery but this Israeli singer is a hero, something he denies, knowing he was “just doing his duty for the land he loves” . He wrote this song months before October 7^th, but it tells of our humble heroes. https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=gZKE-8hmgMWPVwOK

 

Pete Seeger represents the Sixties dream of peace more than almost any other singer and his songs carry deep meaning until today, none more than “We Shall Overcome” Listen carefully as he talks of those who do nothing and sings “We are not afraid”  https://youtu.be/1osKWCDXl40?si=i1U4s13zj7kUcjch  

 

With much love from the beautiful, rain washed hills of Jerusalem. We will survive this as we have survived every other challenge in the past. A special thank you to all our Christian friends, especially those who come here and go to The Hague, for your unswerving support for Israel

 

I wish you a Shabbat shalom, a peaceful Sabbath and a weekend of blessings

Sheila

 

91 days and counting

 

Friday, 5^th January 2024

May this be a Shabbat Shalom

 

“We are not defined by those who hate us but rather by those who love us”

 

In my New Year resolutions I promised to begin by writing something, anything positive, and I want you to know that many wonderful things happened this week alongside the tragedies of everyday life, but it would be unrealistic to ignore the truth too.

 

One of the most important aspects is that a many miluimnikim – reservists, have come home, at least for a short time with their families. The destruction of Gaza that was imposed upon the Gazan people by the actions of Hamas, is extensive, but it will be razed to the ground and rebuilt; the destruction of the towns, villages of the Salad Trail, which abuts Gaza, can be rebuilt but the lives of the families of hostages and those young people who died will never be the same. Equally, the towns in the North of Israel are constantly bombarded from Lebanon and some 200,000 people from North and South, are refugees in our own country and hundreds of young soldiers who are severely injured, many amputees but their mood is positive and their beds surrounded by well wishers.   

 

Having understood all of the above, I will tell you about my week. Oh, and before everyone blames us for the bombing attack in Teheran, ISIS has claimed responsibility. Oh, and we “don’t know” who killed Salah Al-Arouri, the Hamas Deputy Leader who lived in Lebanon. As to the insanity of the Western World toward Israel, Brendan O’Neill probably said it best when he quoted 17^th Century Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza’s reaction to the diabolical murder of a Jewish family  ‘Ultimi barbarorum.’ Rough translation: ‘You are the greatest of barbarians.’ Here is his article entitle “The unholy alliance between wokeism and barbarism” https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/12/brendan-oneill-unholy-alliance-between.html

 

Israelis have been overwhelmed by the incredible people of every faith who have come to volunteer, to console, to support and to just show up. It has been so heartwarming to receive quick messages that friends have come from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and the USA or nearby such as Turkey, the UK and Europe. This expression of love by people of all ages has had a profound effect on all of us, an effect that often counteracts the demonstrations of hate. Thank you.

 

Both the New York Times and the London Telegraph have performed very serious research into the sexual aspect of October 7^th and come to the conclusion that horrendous, cruel and violent rapes was one of the intentions of the attacks.

 

60 Minutes is not known for being especially pro-Israel, but October 7^th shook them to the very core and their reportage has been very fair. This interview with Yarden Roman-Gat says so much https://youtu.be/ixynqr-88gE?si=H_tsO-iOC7z_s_H7

 

On 29 December 2023, the Republic of South Africa instituted proceedings against the State of Israel before the International Court of Justice concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and requested the ICJ to indicate provisional measures. Genocide? The population of Gaza is increasing steadily and since 2005 Israel has not been in Gaza! I think the greatest insult to our intelligence is that South Africa is not only one of the most corrupt and violent countries in the world, it boasts one of the highest rates of rape in the world, one every 26 seconds. I think that just about sums up the ineffectual idiocy of the ICJ and the entire United Nations.

 

So you see, although my New Years Resolution was to begin with good news, I had to include some simple facts of this upside down world.

 

I haven’t seen a lot of Zvi over the last few weeks because he was rehearsing with the Choir of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra for a huge concert at the Henry Crown Auditorium of the Jerusalem Theatre But before that I want to tell you about Monday evening.

Young adults of Shalva took part in a specially devised play in the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem with the incredibly patient and gentle encouragement of two of the actors in the theatre’s troupe. I don’t know if you understand the months of preparation and rehearsal to bring these young people to the stage, some of them severely challenged, from autism to Down’s Syndrome and other challenges. The patience of the actors in guiding them on stage was superb. My favourite has to be the young woman who played the Princess. For weeks leading up to the big evening she would tell anyone who would listen that she was a princess. Anyway, I digress for a change. The evening I attended was the dress rehearsal, and the audience was made up of the volunteers and parents, most of whom could not believe that their children would ever achieve such stardom. I sat with our friends Ronit and Yossi Dagan and the wonderful Gaby Hirsch who helped me every step of the way to achieve Dr. Dan’s Room, the Studio for the Performing Arts that we founded in Shalva to honour my son Daniel z”l. In many ways it was you those of you who helped me to achieve the studio which ultimately allowed these young people to perform. Daniel would have definitely loved it. https://give.shalva.org/daniel

 

On Tuesday Zvi was at rehearsals virtually all day, he kept the actual programme secret but was so thrilled that neighbours, friends, family and especially his two sons, Amiad and Leor, came to the concert. The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra came in and then the choir. Usually Zvi is the tallest and most identifiable in any situation but in both choirs with whom he sings, he is one of three or four others of the same height, so it was when the choir walked on stage and took their place, unfortunately partly hidden behind the orchestra. The concert began with Hatikvah and was a mixture of instrumentals, the official Jerusalem Symphony singers and the choir and it was superb! The programme consisted of classical pieces, Israeli songs and for most of us the culmination was when the choir sang “Bring Them Home” that oh so appropriate song from Les Miserables.

 

Wednesday was spent preparing for the Impact-se Board Meeting Zoom in the evening. I read every page of the 27 page report with amazement. How such a small organisation, or should I say such a small research institute into tolerance in education, can achieve such astonishing results, being taken very seriously as a source of information by governments in most Western countries, never fails to amaze me. Indeed, in my opening remarks as Chair, I expressed my admiration for the achievements on “The Hill” in Washington, in Brussels with the EU, in the UK and the seats of power in many European countries all of whom fund UNWRA to the detriment of our entire region. It is essential that you understand that it is not just hatred for Jews and Israel that is taught in these schools, it is hatred for all of us who are not believers, we are all included in the terms INFIDEL. Indeed one of our next projects is to research the effect of such hate education on the Christian communities (what is left of them) in UNWRA schools. One small office, one huge step for mankind. Our CEO Marcus Sheff and COO Arik Agassi who lead the incredible, ridiculously small team, deserve all our gratitude for their determination to bring tolerance where there was hatred following in the illustrious footsteps of the founders of Impact 27 years ago. https://www.impact-se.org/

 

Thursday was a sheer delight as I met with old friends in Modiin. I don’t know if you have ever eaten an Israeli breakfast but the variety is wide, always accompanied by a freshly chopped Israeli salad. We sat in the sunshine, enjoying each other’s company and incredibly succeeded in spending three hours without talking about “ha matzav” the situation.

 

Thursday evening and we had another meeting in the village library, this time to make beautiful, fabric covered notepads under the instruction of the incredibly creative Shirli Sheela. It was great fun and the idea of women meeting for whatever reason, just to be together is one of the most interesting aspects of this war. We will finish the notepads next Thursday, but I’m afraid that my folded corners leave a lot to be desired!

 

And so we are back to Friday and to Shabbat. Once I finish talking to you, I will head off to see the grandchildren and Rachel. I decided to leave the cooking until I get back, just in case I run out of time, because Shabbat  still very early. Being with them gives me an incredible fillip, a boost to my morale, just arriving to the aroma of freshly baked challot which permeates the entire area, to walk in the door to the sound of “Safta” and the accompanying hugs – the hugs of teenagers should never be taken for granted – and my cup of good Yorkshire tea and a freshly baked bread roll with Rachel’s amazing egg salad. Nothing in the world beats it!

 

Tonight we will have a quiet Shabbat. The candles of each of our neighbours lighting our world just a little, and tomorrow we are going to spend in Netanya with Zvi’s cousins Sergio and Sarah who came to Israel on Aliya from Mexico and have never regretted a moment of their new life in Israel. First we will walk along the glorious promenade beside the sea and then go to visit their new apartment and have lunch and hear stories of their new life.

 

Prince Stephane Legar arrived in Israel from Togo and immediately became a hit with our young people. Here he sings his thanks to all the soldiers, to Iron Dome, Magen David Adom to the Israeli journalists who risked their lives to show us the truth…..to everyone who is essential to our security. “You are in my heart” https://youtu.be/W9wsmmkZxjE?si=OhoWP0ihHkgtWlKg

 

As a tribute to Shalva and the children of Shalva who learn that incredible lesson, that they can be anything, never held back by those who say they can’t. Remember that young people from Shalva now serve in the IDF. Here is Yaacov Shewkey, “I Can Be” https://youtu.be/C3nF2KHmQ60?si=w0hMEKKaJ7H8Mqn1

 

“Ani Chayal” I am a soldier. Recorded 10 years ago this song by Shlomo Artzi tells an all too familiar story. In this video you see him talking to his Mother, a Holocaust Survivor. https://youtu.be/mFWuKakl1TA?si=zTMQsenvmWLcKcGd

 

I wish you a peaceful Shabbat, I wish us all a peaceful weekend in which we can enjoy the most important people in our lives. Hopefully I will not need to update you this week unless it is exceptional news - B’sorot Tovot, good news.

 

With much love from Jerusalem

 

Sheila