Hostage, Hopes and Medals Edit
16th August, 2024
314 days since October 7th
Shabbat Shalom, Shabbat Nachamu – the Shabbat of Comfort
Shabbat Nachamu is the Shabbat after Tisha b’Av (the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av a fast day of deep mourning) when we remember the horrific disasters, both self-induced and imposed that fell upon the Jewish people. Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort when we are supposed to put disputes and internecine fighting aside and repair our social wounds. Sounds amazing and worth trying.
Yes, I’m still here despite rumours to the contrary. I haven’t decided whether Iran is all bluff and bluster, creating a sense of deep tension in the whole area or simply cooking up a dastardly plan! Whatever happens I am absolutely certain that they are using the opportunity that they created, the havoc, death and destruction through their proxies, to complete their nuclear facilities. Well, they certainly made the world look the other way didn’t they?
The headline read “British Foreign Minister announces that 60,000 Brits ready to be evacuated from Israel” which sounded pretty scary. However, there are only about 23,000 Brits in Israel and none of us intend going anywhere, this is our chosen home. But, wait a minute, I checked, and the British Government statistics actually state that the 60,000 includes Gaza, which is really odd because we left Gaza in 2005. The moral of the story is, don’t believe a word that is written in the press or spoken by a politician!
I’ll give you a very quick rundown of the latest news and the why’s and wherefores.
First the good news. Despite the best efforts of the anti-Israel lot, we got 7 medals in the 2024 Olympics. Not bad eh? One Gold, 5 Silver and a Bronze.This news gave us all the fillip we needed, finally good news and those amazing young women of the Rhythmic Gymnastics broke into a spontaneous Hatikva together with the Israelis at the arena.
The much talked about Tzir Philadelphi, or Philadelphi Corridor, was originally a clear, uninhabited strip created between Egypt and Gaza to prevent the passing of weapons and terrorists between the two. Riddled with tunnels and a major passage for arms and terrorists, Egypt was loath to allow the IDF to discover their murky secret, that they were allowing the misuse of the area, simultaneously stopping any Gazans from entering Egypt. So, the IDF decision to go into the Corridor against USA demands, was right and at least 50 tunnels were blown up over the last few days.
The remaining hostages have been at the forefront of our lives for 314 days. It doesn’t stop politicians being politicians, wreaking havoc with our peace of mind, but every single normative Israeli lives and breathes bringing them home. We are not naïve, we know that many have been killed already and those remaining have undergone diabolical torture and will never be the same, but those who are still alive and those whose families want to give their loved ones a funeral, are our top priority. I don’t believe that our Prime Minister is heartless, I don’t know if he is doing everything in his power to bring them home or if he has other priorities but I know one thing, he agreed to the Gilad Shalit exchange, giving 1,027 terrorists for one soldier, (including the release of Sinwar which led to October 7th) so what is the delay? A sidebar, Ehud Olmert refused the Shalit exchange as too dangerous.
The north of Israel, the picturesque villages, towns and kibbutzim, home to Druze, Jews, Circassians, Christians, Bedouins, in fact the mosaic of Israelis, have been destroyed by Hezb-Allah missiles. Thousands or trees and agricultural land burned to a crisp and the outside world, the media, doesn’t report it. Even the slaughter of Druze children barely made the front pages. We spend a fortune on protecting our population, safe rooms, shelters, Iron Dome and even demanding that people abandon their homes to prevent death, but the emotional cost of leaving one’s home for 314 days is high.
The government just stopped payment on hotels for the population of southern Israel, along the border with Gaza, telling them to go home, but the booms of an ongoing war in the near distance is horribly disturbing.
This week I don’t want to write about the government. The cracks are showing, but when one comes down to the nitty gritty, this coalition is the people’s choice
I look around me and I see a lifeboat of civilization in a raging sea of oppression, this little country has given so much to an utterly ungrateful world. When you think back it started with BDS and has grown from there in a carefully laid out plan leading to extreme acts of anti-Semitism and ultimately finger pointing at Israel as if we are the enemy. My analogy of lifeboat and stormy seas is rising to a tsunami and it’s time to remember my motto “The power of one” and act, obviously without violence, but rather with our pens. There will always be nay sayers, I remember when I started this newsletter I met with derision from all sides “What on earth do you think you can do that will have an effect?” or “Why bother, it’s not worth the effort, nobody will listen” Well, if you will allow me to explain what one person can create, just one perfectly ordinary woman, I’ll explain. I brought the personal side of story of the Second Intifada, the truth of the horrendous bus bombs to both CNN and BBC by befriending correspondents; with Zvi, visiting the families of those who died in those bombings; and the story of Kinneret Chaya, my very own adored heroine, to the world, explaining that bombs on buses and in coffee shops don’t just kill, they destroy bodies and minds, but that we can recover, never quite the same, but thriving nonetheless. Even the NYT wrote about Kinneret Chaya! I caught spies (yes honestly) here in Jerusalem, just one of many adventures with Canon Andrew White, including, together with Canon White who was still in Baghdad, we saved Ezekiel’s Tomb in Iraq; as Chair of the incredible team of Impact-se, I have watched a glimmer of hope as this magical organisation has brought tolerance where once there was only hatred, thus changing the future of the region’s children and giving hope a chance; and you, each and every one of you, you are my greatest success because you are thirsty for the truth, you are willing to spread what I hope is a fair truth, as an Israeli whose eyes are everywhere. Zvi and I are not so very different from other Israelis, each of whom does whatever they can to stand up and speak out. In fact, perhaps my greatest achievement is the work helping Zvi, such important work for Israel and for Jerusalem.
Now I am going to ask you something very important, use that power of one! When you see something that is just wrong in a newspaper, online, heard at a meeting or in universities and schools don’t cringe and walk away, be ready to stand up and be counted.
Before I wrote this morning, I did a “tour” of our veranda, checking that the horrid mealybugs had not multiplied. I always start with the view, well this is called “The View From My Veranda”, and the sunrise over Jerusalem which takes my breath away every single day. The lime, kumquat, orange and lemon trees are laden with young fruits and blossoming yet again, ready for a second crop. The apple tree, my very favourite type, the simple Anna apples, is blossoming with new life. I can’t wait to pick the fruits which are only good when fresh off the tree. No fancy genetic changes here, just simple apples bursting with flavour, their skin a light green with a beautiful pinky/red blush! The hibiscus bushes, purple, orange, buttercup yellow, dark Bordeaux and bright crimson, are enjoying the change in weather; the days are still hot but mornings are gently warm, dew-laden, mist laying over the wadi next to us while evenings are balmy, a perfect combination.
Zvi is sitting next to me at his computer and suddenly told me some very important information! Yesterday was the 61st anniversary of his recruitment to the IDF! He was 18 years old and came back to Israel after 5 years with his parents in Mexico City where they were sent as Hebrew teachers in the Yiddische high school. He travelled home through New York where he auditioned for Juilliard. He was accepted, well with his voice how could he not, but chose to come home and enlist. That is so Israeli but even more, it is very Zvi; first and foremost, his beloved country. There was one major problem to his enlistment, the IDF managed to find him and ill fitting uniform but not footwear! They simply didn’t have size 50 regulation shoes so for the first months of his service he had to wear sandals rather than cut the toes out of the regulation boots!
Life goes on. Surprisingly normal life goes on. This morning Zvi will meet with his friends at the Botanical Gardens restaurant, Caffit, in a private room since they don’t want to be disturbed by the happy sounds of families enjoying their Israeli breakfast. An Israeli breakfast is very different to an American breakfast or a full English breakfast, actually it is usually very healthy! Typically, it is two eggs of choice, a salad, either chopped or green, an array of savoury spreads, each nestled in its own little dish, delicious crusty bread, a coffee of choice and a fruit juice of choice. On the other hand, you may prefer a shakshuka, eggs “poached” n either a green sauce with spinach or traditional with a spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce. Of course if you are in an hotel, well that would take an entire page to describe the delicacies there!!
I’m off to Rachel where she just informed me that the egg salad and hot from the oven bread roll, commonly known as a bulkeh, are ready and waiting. I’m very proud of her children, of my grandchildren. Yosef, as I said, is volunteering in Shalva and Talia is about to start her year of volunteering (shnat sherut), living away from home, just coming back for Shabbat, and serving the country. That’s what it is all about, teaching one’s children to see beyond their screens.
So that’s it for another week. Fear not, I’ll be back next week. Remember that 3 US aircraft carriers and 2 British aircraft carriers are lying in wait for any Iranian misconduct and the Saudis have given their airspace for any action. Don’t read the news, most definitely not the headlines, perhaps you can write something that will make the headlines instead?
You already know that my very favourite Israeli song is Al Kol Eleh, the Honey and the Sting. Here the IDF Orchestra joins the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and our beautiful soldiers to play and sing this song which says more about life here in this tiny dot of land than any other. https://youtu.be/tLjucRUyd4Y?si=sfcKLXYUxm5PdSQs
Am Yisrael Chai, (the people of Israel lives), as you’ve never heard it before! Eyal Golan is a top Israeli singer who has spent the last 10 months visiting soldiers in their bases and families of hostages. He isn’t alone, many of the top stars have given their time and their hearts to us. I love the hope in this song. https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=Bc3Q2bIwOYr_Jp7X
The late Uzi Chitman was a songwriter and singer. Perhaps his most famous song sounds like a children’s melody but it has a much deeper meaning. He sings of his dream that God came down and created peace and then expresses his sadness that when he awakens from his dream and discovers it is a dream, it isn’t real. https://youtu.be/uVr1Qdp-tI4?si=HEbJH_MK9cc8Zd1o
That’s it for another week. I hope you have enjoyed this unusual missive, less news and more of who we are as a people.
Shabbat Shalom, may today, Shabbat Nechamu, live up to its name. Sending you love from Jerusalem, from those of us who understand how much you care. Please God may Uzi Chitman’s dream come true.
Sheila
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