26th July, 2024
Shabbat Shalom to one and all. May you have a peaceful weekend
This week was a confused and difficult one for the United States of America.
I am not talking about the leadership, not about who will be chosen as
President, I am starting this missive with a series of video clips, put
together by journalist Tom Gross. I was horrified, terrified, and disgusted by
the anti-American, pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Please, please, look at what
is happening in the American Capital City.
https://youtu.be/pA9W6FPJujw?si=Gj5d09M3b6iY3c9R We can then talk about who should be the
leader of the Western World.
The Iranian influence, the head of the snake, has gone
well beyond party politics, has been brewing for many years, not just during President
Biden’s term, and the ideal of “free speech” has been taken to extremes we
never thought we could see in a free society. The apparent reason behind the
unseen violence? A visit of the Israel Prime Minister, or is it just an
opportunity for the instigators (Iran and her proxies) to draw unwanted attention
to the “plight” of the Palestinians. Forgive me for saying but what you, the
great democracy of the United States, need is a candidate who will stand up and
speak out about Americas issues, not demand democracy in a rogue state. The old
style candidates spoke about morality and American values………
Talking about moral values, the incredibly costly visit of
Prime Minister Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu and his entire retinue, culminated in
a speech before a packed Congress. His eloquence is unquestionable, his ability
to make one think that he really cares, is apparent, but perhaps we should be
looking for content not standing ovations. By the way, what does it mean when members
of Congress jump up and down like Jack-in-the-Boxes? I have never doubted Bibi’s
ability to orate……. Perhaps I turn yet again to my friend Paul Mirbach whose words
rang true for me. “While he says, "Give us the tools faster, and we
will finish the job faster", I am more reminded of "the hostages are
suffering, but not dying", as we are witness to how he seems to be
"finishing the job". Joe Biden in his speech on the same night
promised to work tirelessly to bring all the ISRAELI hostages home, Netanyahu,
the Prime Minister of Israel, failed to mention them.
Empty words to applause in Congress is reality TV. The
corpses of hostages recovered from Khan Younis, as the number of hostages who
remain alive dwindles, while he travels to America to address Americans at the
same time that he is afraid to face his own people, is our Reality.”
The only truly important art of his speech was when he
introduced the soldiers, our wonderful, brave, outstanding soldiers.
Sadly, Kamala Harris, potential
Democratic Candidate for the Presidency, almost immediately after the Israeli
Prime Minister’s speech, spoke, almost exclusively about Palestinians right to
self-rule. I assume it is because she is ill informed but the Palestinians have
a President, a Prime Minister and a government and since 2005 Gaza has been
self-ruled. We saw the outcome on October 7th. When oh when will
they understand that elections do not bring democracy?
Rashida Tlaib, she who claimed Palestinian heritage and
poverty not proudly American, sat near the incredibly brave former hostage Noa
Argamani. She was wearing a Kaffiyeh and held a sign “War Criminal” and “Guilty
of genocide”. She clearly has never read
the Oxford Dictionary. “the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or
ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.”
Here in Israel, we are in a state of despondency brought about by so many
factors. Another 5 bodies were found in a tunnel in Khan Younis in Gaza.
Stuffed into black plastic bags they were brought home for burial.
Simultaneously, while the Prime Minister chose to go to Washington, flying in a
horrendously expensive white elephant aeroplane called Wing of Zion, to orate
before Congress at a time when the Presidency is in tatters and then celebrate
his son’s 30th birthday. His dystopic government has taken the
opportunity, during his absence, to attempt to pass some highly questionable
laws. While his speech was impressive, he is needed here, soldiers and hostages
are dying!
The lofty
title “The International Court of Justice” has no bearing on Justice. In this
report by Hillel Neuer you will see why. The president of
the International Court of Justice, Judge Salam, who on Friday read
out an advisory opinion targeting Israel, voted 210 times to condemn the
Jewish state when he served as Lebanon’s UN ambassador, and he delivered
inflammatory speeches accusing “terrorist Jewish organizations” of committing
“organized massacres,” according to a
new report by UN Watch. Click
for Video On Friday, the ICJ delivered a non-binding opinion that Israel
must exit from the Judea and Samaria, or the West Bank, which included the
Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. The opinion
was requested by a PLO-sponsored resolution of the UN General Assembly.
However, Judge Julia Sebutinde, the Ugandan Vice
President of the ICJ has declared the ICJ biased and unprofessional in its judgements
of Israel. Her reasoning is wise and rather lengthy, but if you wish to read it
https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204092
Everything that touches the United Nations is rotten. UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “is deeply concerned about the reports of
airstrikes earlier today in and around the port of Hodeida in Yemen, “Israel
has claimed responsibility for the strikes, noting that this is in response to
previous Houthi attacks on Israel,” Not a word from this excuse for a leader
when the UK, USA and Saudi Arabia bombed both this port and another. Not a word
about the constant terror attacks on naval and commercial shipping which
originated from this port. Bravo again Gutteres.
As yet I haven’t written about the hostages, the ever dwindling number of hostages that can still be saved;
their horrific conditions, their fears that they have been forgotten. We know
from those who have been released that they are abused physically and
psychologically, told constantly that nobody cares about them, not seeing the light
of day for over nine months – 293 days. 293 days in which their families have
been fighting with every ounce of their energy, 293 days that have brought all
people of conscience together to fight
for them.
Not everything is bad news though, honestly. You already know how proud I am of Impact-se and our CEO Marcus
Sheff. Marcus and his COO Arik Agassi have been back and fore to Europe many
times this month, ensuring that our reports on UNWRA and PA education are
brought to the right bodies. This week we were rewarded with an exceptional
result. The European Union has decided
to withhold funding of Palestinian education until they change their
schoolbooks, taking the incitement to hatred out and putting our new curriculum
in. https://mailchi.mp/impact-se.org/eu-funding-to-pa-conditioned-for-first-time-on-textbook-reform?e=a928e53ca6
The 2024 Olympic Games are about to begin officially! This tiny country sent no less than
92 athletes all of whom have trained despite the war, despite many doing Miluim,
despite the horrible antisemitism that is Paris 2024. In the back of our minds
we cannot forget the Munich Olympics, the hatred that killed 11 Israeli athletes
will never be forgotten. Then it was the PLO, now it is Iranian proxies. For us,
revenge is sweet when it means winning,
coming home triumphant with medals gold medals, Gold Medals where Hatikva is
played at the ceremony and we can all weep with pride. Good luck to the teams,
the coaches, trainers, and most of all the participants.
This has been a week of meeting friends. We have been
back and forth on Highway number one and toll road number six, going in various
directions, no matter what time we leave we get stuck in traffic jams!! We have
eaten at wonderful restaurants, mostly breakfasts because Israeli breakfasts
are famous! Why famous? The traditional Israeli breakfast is eggs of any type,
multiple dips and spreads, a fresh from the field salad and wonderful farmhouse
bread, often made on the spot. It usually comes with a coffee and a fresh
juice, squeezed or blended on the spot. It is healthy, delightful and often
shared because a portion is just too generous for one person! Tonight Nattie
and Yolli Zonszein are coming for Shabbat Dinner, always a treat.
I have been busy with my various courses,
from water aerobics to craft, from stories in the library to mind and movement.
Of course, Zvi has been going from meetings to rehearsals, in fact we are busy,
very busy, which is how we keep our sanity in this surreal situation.
I am thrilled that one of Zvi’s childhood friends came to visit this week, Elisha Koenig. Toward
the end of a delightful visit Zvi mentioned that Elisha is an expert on many
aspects of agriculture but especially on irrigation, especially on drip
irrigation. I was so delighted because no matter how hard I work on organizing and
reorganizing the pipes I always wind up with either a burst or a dry plant
which needs a top up! Elisha immediately volunteered his services, asked for
various dimensions and I can’t stop smiling. Now, as I sit and eat my breakfast
on the veranda, I can not only enjoy my favourite little visitors, the
sunbirds, but also the knowledge that my plants are safe from the searing
summer sun.
Yesterday Zvi went to Tel Aviv to take Ella and Yonatan to buy all their needs for the
forthcoming new school year, something he did earlier in the week with Gili,
Ori and Yuval. It is traditional that grandparents buy the new books etc, and a
few treats. My grandchildren are too old now but I am going to visit Rachel
soon, to have my egg salad on her incredible challah hug the children and come
back to prepare Shabbat.
So what music do you want this week? Last week was
sentimental memories so this week I need anew theme.
This great social protest song is now 120 years old!
Written by the poet Shaul Tchernichovsky in Odessa at the age of 19. I still
believe in the good of man. https://youtu.be/DtbxBdgsuEw?si=jegAIdWeuybW15lL
Harel Skaat is a young, new talent on the Israeli
scene. His song Hineini Kan, I am Here, could be a love song, but for me it is
a love song to Israel, to us as a people. https://youtu.be/RtisIZhaiag?si=vR9xBZucM8r60SCj
Together! Yachad! Together we can do everything!!! I love the theme of this song and the
wonderful voices of togetherness. I also love that everyone uses sign language to
the music and words. https://youtu.be/JIdADujEf2g?si=_R8QhVVsJZFaBtfg
So that’s it. I know I have left out many aspects but I
don’t want to bore you. Please as you light your candles tonight, be they for
Shabbat or romance, light one for those hostages that stand a chance of living
through their nightmare, say a prayer for them, for the soldiers who are
fighting for our freedom and for our Olympic Team that they all come home
safely, preferably with accolades!
I pray for your country, that the insanity of today
will become the sanity of tomorrow and mezuzas will return to doorposts, kippot
to head and Magen Davids to their proud place on necklaces.
Shabbat Shalom dear wonderful people. Shabbat Shalom
from Jerusalem
Sheila
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