25th October 2024
23rd of Tishrei, 5785
Shabbat Shalom!
Did you know that you save my sanity. Each time that I write to
you, share my emotions, try to explain how it feels to be an Israeli during the
toughest time in recent history, each word helps to put things into
perspective and when you write back to me, it lifts my spirits to realise how
much you care. Most of what I write is positive, but sometimes I need to
express my sadness and you seem to understand that and allow this Pollyanna an
occasional dip into desolation. It never lasts long, but is inevitable.
Perspective? This is a country that, since its founding,
has one basic principle encapsulated in the tenet “To be a light among nations”,
to protect Israelis irrespective of faith, to ensure that we will never again
be subject to attempted genocide, to ethnic cleansing. We build safe
rooms, shelters, sirens, iron dome, our economy thrives despite huge defence
spending; we have never built tunnels and our biggest issue is that we still
believe in human nature.
According to the Hebrew calendar it is one year and one day since
we woke to the most diabolical event since the Holocaust. There is only one
Shoah but this was a very close second.
As Jews all over Israel were in the synagogues celebrating Simchat
Torah, Hezb-Allah fired hundreds of missiles and drones over the entire area from
Tel Aviv northward, sending millions of people into their shelters. The IDF, however,
discovered many underground weapons stores with vast amounts of heavy weaponry,
underneath civilian buildings. We also found tunnels, very different in
structure to the Hamas tunnels, with entire “apartments” with kitchens,
bedrooms, lounge areas and food stores, presumably so that the leaders could
hide away like the cowards they are while putting ordinary civilians in danger.
Incredibly all these tunnels, buildings, weapons stores are in the area that
was declared, by the UN, as a clear zone in Resolution 1701. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-825939
Today is the day after Simchat Torah,
the celebration of reading the last portion of Deuteronomy, completing the full
circle by immediately beginning again at the beginning, with the reading of
Genesis. The portion that we read talks of Moses seeing the Promised Land from
Mount Nebo, seeing the promised land to which he led the Children of Israel,
yet was not allowed to enter. Mount Nebo is in modern Jordan, close to Madaba
and the famous mosaic map of the world with Jerusalem at its centre; years ago,
Zvi and I stood atop Mount Nebo wondering at the sight of Jerusalem in the far
distance. A friend blew a shofar (Ram’s horn), calling Zvi’s late Mother to
tell her where we stood so that she could hear the sound of the Shofar. She reminded
us that we were standing where Moses stood but thanks to the miracle of the
State of Israel, we would be home in Jerusalem that evening.
This year, in addition to a night of dancing and joy in synagogues
all over the world, it was a night of ceremonies, testaments to heroes and the
fallen innocents. 5,785 years and we still fight for our existence, more than
76 years and yet Israel is still fighting her War of Independence. It is a
world that has closed its ears to the truth and embraced the lie that we are
the Children of Israel, that this is our homeland.
Perhaps the most moving of services this Simchat Torah was held in Be’eri,
Kibbutz Be’eri or what still exists of the Kibbutz. Hundreds of Israelis
joined the survivors in the little synagogue to celebrate life, to honour those
who died and those who are still in captivity. 101 hostages are still in
captivity in the most horrendous of circumstances. Are they alive? Who knows,
but we must bring them home; no more procrastination, no more excuses, whatever
it takes the agony must end. The ethos of our little country is that we never,
ever leave anyone behind.
When I think about the last year of all the kindnesses and bravery
perhaps the most Israeli aspect comes from the farmers and kibbutzim. Not a day
has been missed when fields are ploughed, crops planted, tended and harvested.
Nothing can stop the determination to continue life, to do what has to be done even
under fire, risking life and limb. Hens have to be fed, eggs collected, cattle
milked and feed put out, the farmers typify the character of this country.
Nothing stops us.
The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem was formed many
years ago, in 1980, when most countries chose to move their Embassies out of
Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Our friends Tim King and Jay Rawlings were among those
brave people who stood by Israel and both live here and their children served
in the IDF. Each year the ICEJ organises a Tabernacles Festival here in
Jerusalem and this year was no different. To see and hear the unconditional support
in every moment of the Festival warms our hearts and we give thanks to the
leaders for persevering in bringing participants from the world over. https://youtu.be/sszgMGyh-n0?si=naPOfPCYyPlJNMYd
Mosab Hassan Yousef talked before the European Union,
but many chose to ignore his words, to leave their seats empty, fearing the
truth, preferring to stay in ignorant complacency. He speaks as a child raised
in the hatred of the area https://youtu.be/aLskICrhHzk?si=Wfrmu3HavbdVbNOo
The weather has been perfect, the days gently balmy and the
evenings cool, perfect for a walk. The veranda is at its best, the hibiscus, of
which we have many, coloured peach, orange, purple and bright crimson, enjoy
the softer weather and the various citrus fruits are changing colour, ripening
limes and oranges; just as Israel is a tiny fruitful country against all odds,
so these trees, tiny trees in their pots, thrive and give bountiful crops! It
never fails to amaze me how dozens of limes can grow on a tiny spindly stemmed
tree. They give me so much joy as I inspect my “estate” each morning, walking
from tree to tree thanking them for their fruits. Some mornings we are rewarded
by out of season strawberries too. Lest I forget, the herbs are thriving too.
Rosemary, parsley, oregano, thyme, mint, basil, sage to name just a few! No
herbal tea bags in this household, we just go out and pick whatever takes our
fancy. The Passiflora is doing well but for some reason didn’t give us fruit
this year but the flowers, oh my goodness, the flowers are spectacular.
Last night’s memorial ceremonies held stories of bravery but most
of all songs that we sing, the favourite songs of those heroes, reach deep into
our hearts. Here in Israel, we express ourselves in song and these are some of
the best examples
“We are a nation of superheroes” a song about us, the
ordinary people of Israel. About the bus driver who is a tank commander, the
CEO who serves as an ordinary soldier, all of those who took part, and still
take part in defending Israel. Jew, Christian, Druze, Moslem, Bedouin…. https://youtu.be/eDCjjzZm1l0?si=4CpDaJa5U2238Qc7
Vehi Sheamda, Those who stood. A song normally sung at
Pesach, Passover, but it is the story of how many rise against us but the
Almighty always stands with us. A song of hope, a song of belief, a song that
gives us hope that this too will pass. https://youtu.be/6rnoQeukJP0?si=LqpaQOkCfyKf8XMW
A song about surviving and living life after the Nova party. An
original video with some of the survivors of the Nova party singing with Benaia
Barabi this touching song. It is in Hebrew with English translation
https://youtu.be/7cCzikUobC4?si=fKod6maDkoUg5qX-
Another week, another Shabbat, a day of thoughtful contemplation
and prayer that we will not hear the words “we announce that the families have
been informed that” as we learn of another soldier, of yesterday 5 soldiers,
have died. It is never announced until each and every family has been informed.
I know that we will survive, in fact I know that we will thrive
again, maybe changed but never broken and very much alive. This is the most
caring society in the world and I am very proud to be part of it.
May God Bless you and keep you safe from harm.
With all my love from Jerusalem
Sheila
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