Am Yisrael Chai

 

31^st May, 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends.

 

The world is full of surprises, of “firsts” and the USA is no exception.

 

For the first time in American history a President of the United States has been convicted in a criminal trial. The jury determined that he falsified documents and acted in violation of the law when he paid hush money to Stormy Daniels using funds of the 2016 election campaign. This renders Trump unable to vote in this Presidential Campaign, according to the draconian Florida electoral laws, but can still run for President. An anomaly indeed. According to Professor Alan Dershowitz the conviction will not stand, however one wonders if it is appropriate for a convicted man to run for President.  

 

Hamas is willing to consider hostage deal in an extensive prisoner exchange. Obviously, we must bring the hostages home, whether alive or not, but we must not forget that the last major prisoner exchange, also made by Benjamin Netanyahu, led to the release of Sinwar and over 1,000 other convicted terrorists, unquestionably leading to October 7^th. Sinwar repaid Israel doctors who saved his life, removing a life threatening, fast growing brain tumour while he was imprisoned. Our society, our intensely humane society, just wants our loved ones home, but at what price.

 

U.S. Central Command said in a statement that U.S. and British forces had hit 13 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in response to the piracy and attacks of the Houthis on ships. The British defence ministry said the joint operation targeted three locations in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, which it said housed drones and surface-to-air weapons.

 

Coming back to Israel and the Rafah (Rafiach). The IDF is not interested in Rafiach, but rather the so-called Philadelphi Corridor. Wikipedia explains is more concisely and clearly than I. “Following Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the Philadelphi Accord with Egypt was concluded, which authorized Egypt to deploy 750 border guards along the route to patrol the border on Egypt's side. The Palestinian side of the border was controlled by the Palestinian Authority, until the 2007 takeover by Hamas.^[2] The joint authority for the Rafah Border Crossing was transferred to the Palestinian Authority and Egypt for restricted passage by Palestinian ID card holders, and by others by exception.

One purpose of the Philadelphi Route was to prevent the movement of illegal materials (including weapons and ammunition) and people between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.” Rather than serving the people it became the centre for the illegal passage of arms for Hamas through tunnels underneath the Corridor. The discovery of those tunnels which operated under the tacit approval of the Egyptian government, would have caused great embarrassment to all involved. However, we just took over the Philadelphi Corridor and found that all of the above to have been overturned.

 

The Western media was full of vitriol against Israel for the dreadful fire that erupted after a pinpoint killing of senior Hamas operatives in Gaza. The IDF has released an intercepted call between two senior Gazans who state that the explosion and fire resulted from flying shrapnel from the airstrike, which was 180 meters from the actual refugee camp, which in turn caused the detonation of an entire arsenal of explosives hidden inside the refugee camp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-wUJWwu-oQ

 

War kills. War is ugly. To blame Israel for what is called “collateral damage” is disgraceful and those who cast blame should take a look in the mirror. The USA is most certainly not the only country to cast blame but take a look at these figures. The U.S. post-9/11 wars have forcibly displaced at least 38 million people in and from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya and Syria. At least 940,000 people have been killed by direct war violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan. The above fire, if caused by Israel, cannot be compared with the intentional use of Agent Orange in Vietnam. The current double standard is deeply influencing the “Headline Generation” of students who have no idea of history and are being led like sheep to the slaughter by the brilliantly evil Iranian regime.

 

The Jerusalem Gay Pride parade took place yesterday much smaller than usual with 10,000 participants. As with most things in Israel, this is very different to most Gay Parades. It is a very inclusive parade; a socially aware parade and its purpose is manifold. You have to understand that those marching, whatever their sexual preferences, including transgender and transsexual participants, they served in the IDF. Their social awareness goes far beyond their own very real concerns. They marched for the hostages; they marched to change the government; they marched to create a better society; they marched, it wasn’t a fun day to dress up, their purpose goes well beyond gay rights.  

 

Before I forget, since so many of you told me that are coming to Israel, it is very important that you know that from August 1^st there are new rules before landing in Israel. Similar to the ESTA form for the USA we now have a pre-arrival form! https://www.gov.il/en/departments/topics/eta-il/govil-landing-page

 

I tend to lean toward my tenuous Welsh heritage despite the fact that may parents were both Polish, but the comparisons are worth mentioning. Wales and Israel are approximately the same size, literally a few square kilometres difference. Both are feisty little countries very proud of their heritage and Wales was once a deeply religious country which basically observed Shabbat on Sunday – no travelling, no working, writing, spending money etc, which is why they accepted the Jews who emigrated from Eastern Europe whose traditions echoed theirs. Indeed, the Welsh National Anthem rings true for Israel too! So, what happened? Why do Hamas supporters enter a supermarket and dig holes in all the Israeli avocados? Why do the spray paint kosher products? How can the generation that donated in the street for Israel during the 6 Day War turn so abruptly? I don’t have the answers except for the usual one that I outlined above – young people are unthinking sheep led by an evil shepherd, unaware of their own history.  

 

One of the saddest results of this, indeed, any war, is the vast number of seriously injured young people, our soldiers of the IDF. Many amputees and back injuries that require months, even years, of rehabilitation. The incredibly good news is that the Gandel Rehabilitation Centre in Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus opened its doors early and is serving young soldiers with the very latest equipment and physiotherapy. It is good people like the Gandels (who I am proud to call close friends) that are saving these youngsters from the wheelchair.

 

Talking of young people, wheelchairs and disabilities, Rachel and I had the honour of taking the Selig Family to Shalva this week. Justin was/ is and always will be my song Daniel’s best friend. They met as two nerds who loved playing with make believe Lightsabers in break times in Carmel College, when they were both 10 years old and remained inseparable even when they travelled the world. Today Justin is married to the fabulous Daniella with four terrific children, regular visitors to Israel. For Justin visiting Dr Dan’s Room was difficult, and walking into the studio, passing the dedication even harder, but he came, he loved the room and the entire family was blown away by the enormity of Shalva and the sheer joy in every corner.

 

Talking of Shalva, my grandson Yosef decided to volunteer, just one day a week, teaching Shalva youngsters to swim. One day a week turned into becoming part of the Shalva family and he goes there as often as his schedule allows, helping others, making friends with all the other young volunteers. In fact, when Yoav Engel, who runs sports in Shalva returned from a trip to Miami everyone was talking about this new recruit! Yoav is worried that the other departments will poach his new protégé! I am so proud of Yosef and his innate kindness and determination to do something important with his life.

 

Lag b’Omer, the 33^rd day of the counting of the Omer, the predecessor of Lent, passed without any major incidents, despite the attempts by some Haredi groups to go up to Mount Meron despite the police closing the site. Of course, it was a low key celebration but celebrate we did, with bonfires and parties. Lag b’Omer celebrates the end of the plague which killed many of Rabbi Akiva’s students and many also celebrate Bar Kochba’s ill-fated rebellion. As with everything in this region, it’s complicated! https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/lag-baomer/

 

So many weird things are happening but Zvi just told me of one that stretched even my imagination. Someone in Andorra published a poster saying “From Andorra to the sea Catalunya must be free”, put that together with the new cartoon book being read to children in a Johannesburg Mall , entitled “From the River to the Sea” an explanation of Palestine. On the other hand, drones flew over the Brandenburg Gate carrying photographs of the hostages. If you have tiktok (X) https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1796209398294962353

 

Since we last spoke, I had a wonderful time with Susan Wagner who introduced me to her sister Linda who is equally delightful! They were staying in the King David, you can’t beat the King David for sheer class, and I was so thrilled that they found time in their ridiculous schedule to meet me. Susan is a very active member of our Impact-se Board and has become a dear friend.

 

On Shabbat we had friends over for lunch, a lunch that deserves a paragraph of its own! Among our guests, wonderful friends, were Professor Shimon Sheetrit who is an expert on international law and Arabic law and Professor Eugene Kandel, master economist, former advisor to the government and lovely man. The rest of us were not just bystanders, we all waged in, asking, arguing, fascinated by their ability to put things into perspective. Eugene has written an article in Haaretz on how to save Israel’s economy including the changes that must be made. Unfortunately it is a readers only article so I can’t share it with you. Lunch was really fun despite the subjects discussed. Each and every one of the guests loved our view and my “garden” veranda which was in full bloom.

 

The very next day we had honoured guests, Lloyd and Sherri Levin. Lloyd was Zvi’s mentor when Zvi was given the task of creating Keren Hayesod Young Leadership in the model of the UJA Young Leadership. That evening Lloyd and Sherri came with us to Tel Aviv where they entertained their Israeli friends in a Tripoli restaurant, many of their guests were former emissaries to Milwaukee.

 

The rest of the week was filled with Zvi’s rehearsals, my courses, a visit to the theatre and meeting a new friend, originally from Johannesburg, a lady who will definitely become a good friend.  Today we will go up to the cemetery and say the prayers for Zvi’s parent, Kalman and Alla. Incredibly it is 20 years since the very special Kalman passed away.

 

So much more to write about but I think that you will start to complain so let’s go straight to music! Next week I’ll give you a full report of the happenings of Impact-se and the fact that we have changed the schoolbooks of Saudi Arabia.

 

Idan Amedi is a famous Israeli singer/songwriter, he could have refused to go to Miluim, but on October 8^th he rushed to put on his uniform to join his plugah to fight for his beloved country. Idan was very seriously injured but quietly fought his way back. https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=KePkDO-2WMowNU11

 

The next song is a complete departure from my usual music, I’m not usually into Rap, but listen carefully, it’s clever! “From the River to the Sea” https://youtu.be/hfTeUdEgop8?si=qoQdtcjgOPA0_YXe

 

Am Yisrael Chai – The people of Israel Live – Eyal Golan sings our prayer. We will survive, we will thrive, we always do! https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=qW4JjElEXEa0D-kf

 

It is irrelevant which direction you pray as long as you pray for peace, for unity, for a togetherness that the majority of this confused world’s population dreams of. It is irrelevant if you are Sikh, Buddhist, Hindi, Makoya, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish - whether Haredi, Orthodox, Conservative, Masorti, Reform or Reconstructionist or traditional agnostic, all we want is to create a better world for our children and grandchildren. Don’t give up hope, keep fighting for what you know is right and teach your children everything they need to know about who they are and the world will ultimately right itself.

 

I wish you Shabbat Shalom, wherever you may be. With much love from Jerusalem, beautiful, spiritual Jerusalem. Come and visit, Israel loves you!

 

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heroines and heroes one and all

 

Friday 24^th of May 2024

16^th Iyar

 

Shabbat Shalom. Hardly a Shabbat of sweetness and calm for those of us who saw the short and terrifying video of the capture of the young Israeli women and the savagery of Hamas toward them.

 

I forced myself to watch, but behind my horror at what I saw and the obvious intent of the Hamas terrorists, two thoughts rose in my mind. One was of the bravery of those young women who tried to connect with their captors, even with blood streaming down their faces and the other, the desperation of their parents who chose to release the video. For those who did not see it, four young women, hands tied behind them, in their pyjamas, one lying unconscious in front of them, still verbally fighting for their lives. These are not just ordinary citizens, these are the young women, the IDF scouts, who for months reported unusual activity on the Gaza border but nobody was listening.  

 

Naama Levy, soldier and peace activist, her face bloody after a clear beating, told them “I have friends in Gaza” but it did not help. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-802280 The worst part is that the spoken intention of the Hamas terrorists, their captors, was to rape them and when we finally get to them, if they are alive, they will almost certainly be pregnant. They were captured while serving this country and we have to leave no stone unturned, no tunnel open until they come home.

 

This is the video of their capture. Even though the parents took out the worst moments, it is horrific. https://youtu.be/PZRlrWHHRoU?si=XRUBxPu2KWGzWmL8

 

Captured Hamas terrorists are spilling the beans without any need for torture! In their interrogation concerning their part in the October 7^th massacre, two captured Hamas terrorists, a father and son, told of how they raped women before killing them. Indeed, in the notes found in the pockets of all captured and dead terrorists, one of the directives was to rape and kill.

 

It is almost ludicrous, no, it is ludicrous to go from the savagery of Hamas to the case brought by the oppressive regime of South Africa to the ICC. I didn’t understand the difference between the ICC and the ICJ so I looked it up. The ICJ can investigate and come to judgement against a country whereas the ICC judges individuals according to the Rome Statute. If the decision taken by the judges is that the individuals named have committed crimes according to said Statute then it goes to the United Nations and we all know what that means. As you know, I am no devotee of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government, but to class him alongside Sinwar and Haniya in this South African case is a perversion of the law, a clear act of legal, unashamed bias in a forum intended to bring justice. This is a prize for Sinwar and Haniya but a diabolical slander of Israel and the entire Jewish people. Lord Grabiner KC, Baroness Deech KC, Lord Wolfson of Tredegar KC, Lord Pannick KC and Lord Banner KC wrote an exceptional letter in the London Times echoing PM Sunak’s dismay at the suggestion of moral equivalence.

 

This BBC explanation of the ICJ interim decision is excellent. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3g9g63jl17o

 

I believe that there should be a Palestinian State. I suppose that my number one reason is that they would them be responsible under the Geneva Convention, but quite frankly, if they have a State then the millions of inherited refugees would no longer be refugees, they would legally have a homeland and so UNWRA would no longer have a role and  - oh so many reasons! Those who oppose the 2 state solution have come to that decision looking only at the many negatives, and the fact that Israel may need to accept unwelcome aspects of any deal, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recognised when he offered Abbas 97% of the Palestinian demands, they will not accept anything less than the annihilation of Israel. They would lose vast funding, have to be transparent in their finances, learn to be self-sufficient and so many other aspects to independence that they find abhorrent!

 

As to the timing of the declarations of Spain, Ireland and Norway, I feel that it is timing, their timing suggests a reward for October 7^th.

 

I’m sure that you have questioned the reaction of so many allies to our fighting in Rafiach – Rafah. Well, think about it. Most of the tunnels from Gaza into Egypt run through Rafah. It is the route to bring arms and explosives to Hamas, but Egypt is an ally of the West and nobody wants to embarrass them!!

 

Not everything is dark and many people are bravely fighting back, pushing back against the slander of the pro-Hamas ignorance.

 

Michael Ziff is a quiet man, but he isn’t willing to stand by as an alumnus and former Board Member of Leeds University, to allow their negligence in the face of pro-Hamas demonstrations. It can be classed as negligence or the refusal to take a stand; on the other hand, it can be seen as tacit approval of the “River to the Sea” demonstrations at the University. He honoured me with a copy of his letter and his response to the unsatisfactory reply of the University.

 

I met Michael, along with many wonderful people at the Maccabi World Union meetings. Just a mention for the Mexican contingent who refused to be frightened away by the ongoing war. In fact the Mexican contingent was possibly bigger than the USA! If I begin to name the fabulous friends I will be in trouble! Zvi has been involved in Maccabi World Union for about 70 years, indeed his father, the wonderful Kalman Raviv, was a contestant as far back as 1935 in Bialystok and was one of the organisers of the first Maccabi Games held in the newly formed State of Israel in 1948. The opening event was exceptional. Idan Reichel not only sang, but also introduced and spoke with some of the phenomenal heroes of October 7^th, each more wonderful than the next, who spoke of their experiences and received an award of heroism. The evening, rather than yet another cocktail party, had deep meaning for the participants, their emotions ready for the next day’s visit to the Southern Border towns.

 

Iranian President Raisi died in a helicopter crash in bad weather conditions. However, the Arab press, and indeed an Israel/French journalist, took Israeli humour too seriously and when someone wrote that the helicopter pilot was an Israeli called Eli Kopter, and they took it seriously!! It has been the cause of great hilarity that the media is so gullible!

 

We had a visitor from Mexico this week. Silvia Jaet loves Israel, has known Zvi for many, many years and wanted to be here, not just to hear the news. She loved it! In just 3 days Zvi showed her just about everything, he really is the best. On the first day of Silvia’s visit Zvi took her to the IDF Memorial and Mount Herzl, the Herzl Museum and the Israel Museum, then I met them in Shalva, at the amazing restaurant and a visit to Dr Dan’s Room which was in full activity, the youngsters having a ball at what they said is their favourite activity! It made me so proud, I know that my Daniel z”l would have loved it.

 

The next day I joined them for an amazing visit to the new National Library, a masterpiece of architecture with every book relating to Israel ever published and books about all religions with specific large sections on Christianity, Islam and Judaism. https://www.nli.org.il/en  From one Architectural marvel to another, Israel’s Supreme Court. It is unlike any other, not only in its physical beauty, but in its accessibility to the wide public. The US Supreme Court sees about 80 cases a year,  the Israeli Supreme Court sees more than 20,000 cases a year! https://supreme.court.gov.il/sites/en/VirtualTour/Pages/00_vtour.aspx

 

From the Supreme Court we drove into the city straight to my favourite place in Israel, Mahane Yehuda Market – the Shouk. We were thrilled to see how packed it was, even though it wasn’t Friday! The usual cries of the costermongers touting their wares, the aromas that awaken even the most bored of taste buds, the fruit straight from the kibbutzim and farms and the vegetables of the highest quality – all local produce. Everything is seasonal so we never get bored by any imported fruit, it always changes. Knaffe cooked right in front of you on revolving gas cookers and individual pans; halva of every conceivable flavour including diabetic friendly flavours; all this along side trendy bars and great restaurants. Our first stop, as always, was to the Zidkiyahu brothers, Yaron and Boaz, whose family was among the earliest vendors in this famous market. I always thought that MahaneYehuda meant the Jewish Market or Camp but Zvi explained that in fact it got its name from the fact that the local growers used to come to an open field owned by, you got it, Yehuda, which became the farmers market and grew into the social and physical centre of Jerusalem. Loved it. I went home and Zvi and Silvia went on to the Kotel (Western Wall), an essential spiritual pilgrimage for anyone visiting Jerusalem.

 

Today I have a special treat, I will meet my dear friend Susan Wagner, fellow afficionado, Board Member and passionate proponent of the exceptional work of Impact-se https://www.impact-se.org . We will meet in the King David Hotel where Susan will leave the group so that we can have a quiet catch up time together. I love Susan, her honesty, kindness, quiet enthusiasm and determined work for Israel.

 

Tomorrow, Bill Izo brings our friend and mentor Roy Soloman, from Montreal, to sit on our veranda, until now he has always been too involved in Maccabi affairs but this time, with Bill’s help, he will come to us and to the Kotel. Roy is an exceptional man, a loving lover of Israel and a true friend to Zvi and later on to me too. Later in the day we have friends coming for lunch, taking advantage of the fact that the heatwave will ease so we can sit outside.

 

My choice of music this week makes me happy

 

Yehoram Gaon, the ultimate Jerusalemite, has been singing for many, many years, part of every Jewish event! Here he sings with our wonderful IDF, “Lo Tenatzchim Oti” They won’t beat us that fast! Surely the most appropriate song for the times. https://youtu.be/t7mcRkXyTjA?si=vV_ctG1o0hU0FKoj

 

Eden Golan sang Hurricane in the Eurovision Competition. After her return home she sang the original lyrics with the original title October Rain in Hostage Square. After a short speech in Hebrew for the assembled families of the hostages, she speaks in English. A truly wonderful young Israeli warrior of song. https://youtu.be/O40H5yM799U?si=tKKGY54NsLc8ERmH

 

Natanel Hershik has the voice of an angel. Here he sings the prayer for the safety of the IDF soldiers, together with the Maccabeats, the words of Benny Gantz and the sights and sounds of all Israelis, especially our children, our soldiers, our heroes of the IDF. I admit that my tears fell from start to finish. https://youtu.be/uL-yEVU18Cc?si=4cEJDpulzUDEMQrI

 

 

I know that most of you think that we all sit in our safe rooms and tremble with fear but it isn’t our way, we are survivors, we fight back, we stand tall and despite the scandalous libel of the outside world, the hatred,  want you to understand that we are here, our arms always open when other doors close.

 

Shabbat Shalom. When you light candles tonight, being Jewish is not an essential factor in lighting candles to light the world, say an extra prayer, please. Pray for logic to enter the thoughts of both leaders and students, our future leaders. In a world gone mad where right is wrong and wrong is applauded we have to pray and become pro-active, to fearlessly preempt.

 

With much love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

  

 

    

Dedicated to Valeri Eran Silver z"l

 

17^th May 2024

Day 224 of October

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends.

 

This has been a week that left me so exhausted, and for so many reasons, that I just hope I'm able to talk to you with some sense of reason. 

 

A war is going on around us, the policies of our current government mean that not only are we not winning the war on the ground, we are losing the war of public opinion, losing the international media war and worst of all our country has been cut into 1/3 of its size.

 

I believe I have written before that one of the worst decisions of this dreadful government looked logical at the moment but as with most of their policies, without any thought of the future. While it was clearly essential for the kibbutzim and villages on the border with Gaza, those that were burned, destroyed and over a thousand people slaughtered, to be given homes, albeit temporary, elsewhere, their own homes unlivable, but by making hundreds of thousands of people refugees in their own country, both in the north and south, the brilliance of the Iranian – Hamas Hezb-Allah – war machine has created a situation whereby through constant bombing and missile attacks on those empty homes, nobody can go back. It may sound an upside-down philosophy on my part, but had the people been in those homes, our enemies would not have continued the destruction because their determination to win the information/emotional war throughout the world is at least as important to them as the physical war. This is a war of attrition on every level; a brilliant strategy, machinations of evil to influence the world media and clearly young minds and a weakening of this already tiny Jewish state.

 

There are those who fall for the media hype, yes even Jews, and seriously believe the insane idea that we are conducting genocide. The birthrate in Gaza is the highest in the entire region! Israel has never and will never want the death to any other peoples, sadly it is our enemies who want us gone. Just like that sad, sad poem about the Jews of Europe, Iran is just starting with the Jews of Israel, then the Jews of the world, The Christians, the moderate Moslems, the Hindus (perhaps you haven’t heard what happens in India), and Buddhists, until finally there will be nobody to fight for those who remain. We are the canary in the coal mine.

 

One last scream, I must get out of my system. President Biden is a Zionist and our greatest ally ever. He openly says that he disapproves of Netanyahu but that does not make him our enemy. You don’t know Edna Halbani but Edna was Head of Protocol in the Prime Minister’s Office for at least 20 years, and in a television interview yesterday she said that President Biden is not only the most amiable and caring of all the world leaders she tended to, but he is undoubtedly the most loyal ally of Israel, an Israel that he loves. Those who do not recognise it need to wake up. It is not a matter of political parties, it is matter of the man.

 

I have long wanted to get that off my chest, breaking my tradition of being the voice of apolitical reason, but felt that it coloured my impartiality, but like most Israelis, our love of Israel has become our only thought. The understanding that the defence policies has brought us too many deaths of incredible young men and women in the IDF has galvanized us in our grief. Israel is a tiny country where everyone knows everyone and the number of seriously injured and amputees is growing daily. We are exhausted. Exhausted from the remarks of two members of the government who are quoted in the International Court of Justice as if their idiocy is the policy of the State of Israel. The fact that South Africa, conceivably one of the most racist countries in the world, has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice is yet another insanity.

 

The highest level of Islam is a visit to Mecca to the Kaba, where men then add the title Haj to their name. This week a woman opened out a Palestinian flag at the Kaba and was immediately arrested by the guards who grabbed the flag.  She was taken away by the guards. I found it fascinating that in the West she would have been applauded but in Saudi Arabia she will have been punished.

 

However, and this is a huge however, a 20 year old, wonderful, beautiful young woman with the voice of an angel gave us hope! Eden Golan sang in the Eurovision Song Contest and although the judges were unkind the general public, all over the world, loved her and voted for her. I assume part of the reason is that hers was the best song – possibly the only normal song. She was shunned by other contestants and one of whom insisted that she be removed from her sight – and Eden had to go to a separate dressing room with guards. Another However, Eden sang incredibly (I’ll put the video at the end of the missive) and Britain, Italy and others gave her the maximum public votes! In fact, she said that the boos from the audience galvanized her to perform her very best!

 

Echoing the mood of the contestants, the professional judges awarded Israel a paltry 52 points, putting Israel well down the leaderboard. Then something remarkable happened. In the public vote, Israel was the overwhelming choice. An extraordinary 323 points – including a maximum 12 from the UK – propelled Eden in to fifth place. Eurovision is hardly a scientific poll but it does give an intriguing snapshot of public opinion. It's clear the protesters running amok in London and our universities do not represent the silent majority.

 

Following on from the Eurovision, here are two very important videos; Piers Morgan’s interview with Hen Mazzig and Chris Williamson with Douglas Murray (both Hen and Douglas are gay) about Gays for Gaza or as Douglas Murray says that’s like Turkeys for Thanksgiving! It related to the Eurovision but I beg of you to watch. I warn you that there is strong language in the Douglas Murray interview. https://youtu.be/hDRpCW_Hngk?si=9cerX2_1yW9nh1FJ and Hen with Piers Morgan responding to drag queens for Palestine https://youtu.be/IQGpdRSz5Rs?si=nXz09SRJnNBanevX

 

Yom H’Atzma’ut, was strange this year. We wanted to celebrate our incredible country but didn’t have the “cheshek” or inclination, for our usual big parties so we invited a few good friends for brunch and we managed to speak about family, gardens, food only occasionally of our real fears for the 77^th year of Israel. We soared for most of our 76 years and our current shaky flight has to end in a safe landing.    

 

My exhaustion is partly from having driven over a thousand kilometres this week, but the emotional exhaustion comes from the news we received on Sunday. I have written many times about the Silver family who despite sharing my maiden name were not blood relations but family in every sense of the word. Valeri and Ira made Aliya from Moscow just one year after I did – in fact yesterday we discovered that it was one year to the day!  Both of them immediately began their new lives in Israel by reaching out to the Jewish world, working hard as emissaries and within both the Jewish Agency and Keren Hayesod. In fact, in the last years, instead of retiring and taking up hobbies, Valeri chose to greet new Olim from Russian speaking countries as they arrived at the airport, including the Ukrainians who came find refuge. He cared about every single one of them ensuring they were taken care of in their various hotels. To our deep sadness, dismay and sorrow, Valeri passed away suddenly on Sunday, far too young at only 62 years old, just two months after they moved to the city of Ashkelon, to their dream apartment. They are surrounded by loving friends, young women who were in the IDF with Sheli surround her with love, their Russian speaking friends ensure they are not alone and Habad brings them lunch each day, lunch and consolation. I cannot believe that Valeri will not be at our Seder table next year as they have for the last 30 years, it doesn’t seem possible. My favourite Valeri story is that he grew up speaking Hebrew, his mother and grandfather were Israeli but moved to Russia, mistakenly believing that Communism in Russia was as socially inclined as in the West, and when he and his beautiful Ira came to Israel, he discovered that his perfect Hebrew was heavily accented! It still makes me smile, in fact when I think of Valeri, I smile. Ira and Valeri gave us two incredible Israelis, Tomer and Sheli, two young people who have served this country and continue to be proud Israelis, something that their father wanted more than anything.

 

I have no words left so I will give you my choice of songs

 

Hurricane, which was originally called October Rain, in a special animated version dedicated to a fallen soldier but meant for all those who fell both in the IDF and on October 7th. https://youtu.be/RR9dz18yYCw?si=6rXMcnc2gJSBL_Vq

 

When Zvi took a Keren Hayesod mission to Moscow in 1990, it was not only his first visit to Russia, it was when he met Ira and Valeri. One of the events, where Valeri joined, them took place in a restaurant where they heard the original version of many songs that made Aliya during the first years of the State of Israel, songs that gained new Hebrew lyrics. Among them Katyusha, which became Agas v’Tapuach, or Pear and Apple. https://youtu.be/DQfQTZ4YqjM?si=6Eq2eQdivYdN4FaZ

 

On Remembrance Day. Omer Adam sang a special interpretation of the song Rikma Enoshit, or Human Tissue, dedicated to those who were slaughtered on October the 7^th singing together with the families. The words “When I die something of you in me will die within me. When you die, something of you in me will die within you. Because all of us, yes all of us, are all one living human tissue and if one of us goes from us something dies in us and something, stays with him” https://youtu.be/yAB_akSqWOc?si=GbcNpUOeplIhAIlU

 

I wish you a Shabbat shalom. I wish you good friends, good health and good news

 

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

Yom haShoah 5984

 

6^th of May, 2024

28^th Nissan 5784

Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel

 

A few minutes ago, Zvi and I stood outside in the rain, the skies weeping with us as the wail of the siren echoed our sadness, the siren whose wail brought Israel to attention. Today is the Hebrew date, the 28^th of Nissan, which was chosen because it was the date of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the date we fought back.  I want to tell you something, something that I was ashamed to think until 7 months ago, I believe that “Never Again” is an empty phrase, an empty phrase that induced a false sense of security because, it is now “Yet Again”

 

Not only is the rise of anti-Semitism becoming a tsunami, Jews themselves are blaming Israel for making trouble for them in their adopted countries, falling into the trap of “keep quiet and it will be alright” not understanding that if Israel doesn’t fight this enemy, then the fate of Jews all over the world is sealed.

 

Last night I watched a televised conversation with Ofir Engel and his Safta, his grandmother, or probably his great-grandmother. The topic of conversation was riveting as Hannah, as a Holocaust Survivor, described her horror when she heard of the conditions in which her beloved grandson was held by Hamas. The physical and emotional torture, hiding in the darkness afraid to make a sound, believing that someone would come to rescue him but unable to communicate with another soul, brought back memories of her childhood, her lost childhood in the Shoah.

 

How tragic that just two or three generations after the Shoah the ties that bind them irrevocably are the shared experience of Jew hatred. I will not call the 7^th of October a Shoah, there is only one horrific and specific Shoah, but it shook us Israelis to our very core to find ourselves vulnerable, but you, those of you outside Israel, a whole generation of young people, your future leaders, have become the modern day brownshirts.

 

Remember the anthem of the Jewish people, the words of Naftali Herz Imber prophetic, The Hope – Ha Tikvah. We must stand tall, we must remember our long, long history, the people of the Bible right here on this land. Today, Hatikvah is so much more than a hope, Israel is the reality, just as we read in the Passover story, we came home; we are a strong democratic nation in a sea of despotic, tyrannical, dictatorships, and we are prepared to fight for our right to be.

 

Today we are independent, not dependent upon anyone, and if we have to, if the tsunami of hate and lies, overtakes the West completely, we will survive alone. We never want to be alone but our belief that good always overcomes evil was apparently naïve.

 

First, let’s listen to the children of the Jewish school in Munkacs in the Ukraine during the 1930’s before anyone knew about the Shoah or the State of Israel, who knows how many survived. https://youtu.be/viu48BxOBnA?si=GX8strqTngz4mgvR

 

Here the beautiful young people, our children, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, the IDF sing the song they know is theirs  https://youtu.be/GQCu9kl68Tg?si=CbNp_upTMJc_ghNB  

 

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

 

Sheila