Pesach, the 552nd of October

 

11^th April, 2025

13^th Nissan 5785

552^nd of October

 

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful Pesach.

 

“Justice doesn’t always arrive in sweeping gestures or loud declarations. Sometimes, it walks softly into a room and says, “This isn’t right”—and the world begins to shift.

 

Our very special friend Dr Kim Taylor wrote these words which best describe this festival. “This Passover, as we remember Moses' brave "Hineni" at the burning bush, we are reminded that each of us is also called to respond: "Here am I." Just as Moses stood ready to serve God and lead Israel to freedom, we were also invited to stand with courage, faith, and purpose. In every generation, our "Hineni" matters through acts of kindness, compassion, and devotion to our people, our faith, and Israel. May this sacred season inspire us to bring healing where there is pain, courage where there is fear, and hope where there is uncertainty.” 

 

Tomorrow night we will all remember and pray for the 59 Israelis who are still in the dire conditions of Hamas captivity. As we celebrate our freedom we fear for their lives and their families who have an empty chair at their Passover meal.

 

Almost time for Passover and the reading of the story of our Exodus from Egypt – from slavery to freedom. After the blessing over the wine, the youngest child at the table asks four questions beginning with “Why is this night different to all other nights” the entire service responds to this innocent question, in Hebrew and ancient Aramaic. Of course, the children need to be amused in order to hold their attention so there are lots of songs and the children often argue about who will read about the four sons – The Wise, The Questioner, The Wicked and The One who doesn’t know how to ask. What is the purpose of this description of four sons? the four sons actually represent the four generations of assimilation.

 

14th of Nissan 2448 the first Paschal lamb was sacrificed by the Jews in Egypt to be eaten at the first ever Passover Seder as described in Exodus. It was so much more than an act of bravery, the sheep was considered holy by the Egyptians of that time, it was an act of defiance when the Jewish slaves realised they were about to leave Egypt and start their tortuous journey to the Promised Land. When you think about it, each generation has brought its challenges, each generation has brought out the innate racism that defines a persecuted nation; through the Inquisition, the Blood Libel, the expulsion the of Jews of Arab Lands, the Holocaust and the persecution and slaughter of today’s Jews. That is what Passover and the Seder or service of the first night (or nights if you live outside Israel) is all about – remembering our tortured past. This history is described in the beautiful song Vehi Sheamda, which is sung at the Seder table but sadly is true of today. Here it is sung by Daniel Weiss whose parents were killed on October 7^th. https://youtu.be/fY1wgTq9SRM?si=-IO2yL7YzLbBALJZ  The words are simple, the message important, “And this (The Almighty's blessings) is what protected our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, but rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and the Almighty saves us from their hands.”

 

On the 27^th of March 2002, just 3 days before Kinneret Chaya was saved from a horrific bombing in a coffee shop in Tel Aviv, the Park Hotel in Netanya was filled with excited families preparing for the communal Seder held in the hotel when a suicide Hamas bomber came into the foyer and blew himself up causing horrific damage and killing 30 people and injuring more than 120. As the song repeats, there is nothing new about killing Jews, it’s just the names that change.

 

Song is an easy way to hold attention while telling a story, Y-Studs is an acapella singing group who will tell you the story of Pesach in about 4 minutes!! It’s very clever https://youtu.be/hLAAdCC9x5M?si=4_jkxKNSXIfLIdMH

 

Just a small but fascinating fact. 36 times the Torah commands us that we must honour the stranger not oppress them but to live and care for them. 36 times this commandment is repeated. Why? Because we were strangers in Egypt treated cruelly and today we are strangers in many lands.

 

A major part of Passover is the origin of Spring Cleaning! Scrubbing and scouring, brushing and clearing, removing any crumb of leavened products. Best explained by my wonderful friend Rabbi Jeremy Rosen with his usual sense of humour, “Passover 2025, Are We Crazy?” https://www.jwire.com.au/pesach-2025-are-we-crazy/

 

There are many miracles in our history but the greatest miracle is the fact that we are here, we survived and we have a truly magnificent country of our own! Each and every one of these miracles is remembered during the Passover Seder, but even that apparently serious litany of disasters is celebrated in song. This particular one has a special relevance and addition at our table, led by Sheli and I, we make a strange ululating sound at the end of each verse! Anyway, here is Dayenu which has no direct translation but basically means “even that would have been sufficient” In other words, the blessings keep coming https://youtu.be/CZgDNPGZ9Sg?si=_UhoUA3HJnTAhECA

 

Zvi came back from his trip to Rome with his two boys (Amiad and Leor) and two Bat Mitzva grand-daughters (Ella and Ori) and we were just talking about the fact that many of the world’s greatest artists were fascinated by the Passover Seder, or the Last Supper, each depicting the faces of the Apostles in a different manner. Anyway, back to Rome and the Vatican where the artist Raphael’s huge tapestry of the last supper is displayed. Our connection, our mutual ethics, our determination to leave this world better than we find it, is what we must always remember, not our few differences or the language or the direction of our prayers.

 

So, The chicken soup is made, the kneidlach (matzo balls) are in the freezer and I am taking life easy this year and we have ordered much of the food from a local kosher caterer, but still the really traditional aspects are left to me. I have prepared the burnt egg, shank bone (actually a turkey neck!!) and am about to grate the horseradish, preferably out of doors with a double mask and not breathing from the pungent fumes that each morsel exudes! The horseradish represents the bitter times. Next on the list is the Charosis or combining using my family’s recipe. Grated sweet apples, ground almonds, a little wine or grape juice and finely chopped lettuce, a very popular version rather than the very very sweet Sefardi version of chopped dates and nuts. One explanation is that this represents our unity as a people, the cement of a shared belief and tradition – something we really need in our world of strongly expressed opinions and internecine fighting. This afternoon, Sheli and Tomer are coming to help Zvi set up the tables and move the furniture, after all seating 23 people is not always easy. Once the tables are in place my parents Seder plate comes out of its protective covering, Zvi’s parents’ beautiful dinner service comes out of its careful packing and we prepare for the prayers and traditions of generations from both our families. I think that’s what it is all about, tradition, just as Tevye’s song in Fiddler on the Roof. By carrying out the traditions we honour our parents, their parents and all of those who died because they were Jews. We prove that no matter what is thrown at us we survive and thrive.

 

Tomer and Sheli are staying for Shabbat dinner, after all celebrating Shabbat overrides any exhaustion induced by the Passover preparations. We will light the Shabbat candles together, aware of the very special connection of our families and of their parent’s determination to have two pure Israelis who were and are ready to fight for our country and our people, putting their personal wishes aside, knowing that the time will come for them to study and begin their civilian lives. Their parents, Ira and Valeri z”l represent everything that Zvi fought for from his student days until today, the freedom of Jews to come home, home to Israel.

 

I wish you, each and every one of you, a Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful Pesach in the week leading up to Good Friday and the festival of Easter.

 

Just a quick reminder that tonight is Shabbat, Shabbat Shalom https://youtu.be/mCQRyLXx-AQ?si=8SqSbLUEfa1xr3aw

 

With love from Jerusalem, after all our Passover Seder ends with the song “Next Year in Jerusalem” so easy to fulfil that one – just buy a ticket!

 

Sheila

May all your troubles be as thin as matzo and they will surely pass over

 ​4^th April 2025

 

 

Shabbat Shalom, I wish you a peaceful Shabbat with only good surprises

 

I made a promise yesterday!  I promised Rachel that I wouldn’t touch on politics today, just general news and happy events. It’s somewhat difficult but a promise is a promise.

 

There are wonderful, exceptional things that happen here and in the world. Perhaps she is right, perhaps we have to concentrate on those miracles in order to stay sane. For instance – Yarden Bibas, once and always father to Kfir and Ariel who were cruelly kidnapped and killed by Hamas, gathered their toys and chose to donate them to a hospital children’s ward. Gadi Mozes took his two grandchildren to a football match of his favourite team, HaPoel Beersheva. He and the children were taken out onto the field where the crowd and players cheered him. He stood and wept. His determination to rebuild Nir Oz into a thriving agricultural community is legend. Eli Sharabi went on British television and spoke in English of his experiences and of his determination to make a hopeful future; when asked if he hated his captors, he responded that hate is not in his lexicon. These men who suffered unspeakable torture and starvation came out with an emotional strength that is nothing short of miraculous!

 

The stories of former hostages fill our lives, it is the central subject matter of every news cast, the opening words of each hourly broadcast of the latest news begins with “It is now 545 days since October 7^th and 59 hostages are still in captivity” Politics are irrelevant when it comes to our heartbreak, we just want them home.

 

If you were to travel around Israel this Hebrew month of Nissan, you would be greeted with an exceptional sight at most orchards and fields of cherry, apple, indeed any fruit tree! During the month of Nissan, leading up to Passover, the blessing of the flowering fruit trees brings out men in their prayer shawls, walking through the fragrant trees reciting a beautiful blessing. “Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, Who has made nothing lacking in His world, and created in it goodly creatures and goodly trees to give mankind pleasure.” Isn’t it a beautiful way to thank the Almighty for the goodness of this world?  As I said, there is beauty in this world, it’s well worth finding it rather than concentrating on the chaos which surrounds us.

 

Deni Avidja is an Israeli basketball player. Both his parents were major athletes and this week Deni, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, was pronounced best in NBA. I don’t know if it’s because we tend to produce some really tall youngsters or if it is the love of sport in Israel, especially basketball but we have produced some exceptional basketball players over the years. One of our first was Tal Brody, who went on to be a symbol of Israeli sport through his ties with Maccabi World Union. Indeed, the Maccabiah had and has a great deal to do with Israel’s success in sport. Whatever the source - so proud of you Deni!

 

In a 17C building in a lively neighbourhood between rue Saint-Denis and rue Montorgueil an Israeli chef, born and bred in Jerusalem, opened his umpteenth restaurant called Shabour. Assaf Granit is an exceptionally innovative chef and his restaurants are different to the typical, stiff Michelin star restaurants and Shabour received a star just this week!  Yet another source of pride.

 

This ignoring politics thing is much harder than I thought! When I look at what is happening around the world it’s really hard to keep my mind on the better, kinder side of life. It would be remiss of me if I ignored some aspects and the “60 minute” interview with Yarden Bibas. In fact, it isn’t about politics, it is about flaunting the value of human life. Time and time again his captors taunted him with “Don’t worry, you’ll get a better wife and better children” after he learned that his family was dead. They told him they died as a result of Israeli bombing whereas he later learned that his beautiful red-headed boys, babies, were cruelly murdered by their captors. https://youtu.be/9PaNbhKqRmw?si=H1LRbUnLGbYeQgWz

 

Israeli first responder and life saving groups have flown off to Myanmar and Thailand after the horrific earthquake which has taken so many lives.  Our teams, both official and volunteer, are experts in recovering people from fallen buildings and disaster areas, sadly a hard learned ability. The power of nature is beyond anything man is capable of.

 

In a reality check this report from Impact-se. IMPACT-se travelled to Brussels last week to hold the Palestinian Authority (PA) to account after it signed a pledge with the European Union (EU) to reform its hate-filled curriculum. On 14 April, a dialogue between EU and PA officials will assess how the PA is delivering on its promise.   We presented new and damning research to the key EU decision-makers, demonstrating the PA’s refusal to reform. In addition to a detailed chronicle of harmful content in PA textbooks for this school year, our recent report shows that a new, abridged PA curriculum, for Gaza, created after the signing of the agreement with the EU,  encourages Jew-hatred, martyrdom and violence.

 

There is a definite aroma of cleaning materials in the air! That phenomenon known as spring cleaning began with Passover! The frenzy of turning out cupboards, getting out grime, climbing to the tops of kitchen cupboards is happening big time. Passover or Pesach is next week!! Zvi very cleverly flew off to Rome to avoid the work – actually not true, Zvi Leor, Amiad and the two Bat Mitzva girls Ori and Ella are on a combined Bat Mitzva and 80^th birthday trip to Rome. They really are having a wonderful time, seeing all the sights and taking a tour with Natti Hamawi, our dear friend’s son who leads tours of Rome. While he is away is have the joy of having Yosef, Rachel and Sheli sleeping over to watch over me.

 

So back to Pesach and getting things in order for the Seder next week. Thanks to Rachel and Aya yesterday was a flurry of cleaning and changing dishes (Yosef brought all the dishes up from the storeroom last week). Sorry, I didn’t tell you why on earth I would change the dishes, pots and pans, apart from the fact that my parents and grandparents did it. Passover, or Pesach entails eating no leavened goods, not a crumb must be found in the house. Over the centuries, for whatever reason, all utensils, dishes, cutlery and pots are either changed or dipped. What does she mean by dipped? On street corners in every religious area, young boys stand guarding huge cauldrons of boiling water where the everyday utensils etc are dipped for a specific length of time to purify them. It is one way of “doing” Pesach but I’m really not keen on dipping my utensils and dishes in water used by everyone. My very Western answer is to have different sets of everything so that it all feel different. Why different? Well that’s another story.

 

We begin the Seder night with a blessing on the wine and then (traditionally) the youngest member of the family recites the four questions “Ma Nishtana” or Why is this night different from all other nights? We then go on to answer those four questions in Hebrew and Aramaic. Instead of having the song at the end of the missive when you will have forgotten why I put it - here it is now https://youtu.be/RmabziV1LiY?si=SjuphCXMzbqKN3b2

 

When I was a child and we sat around the Seder table, Mummy always kept a full place setting on the sideboard just in case we had an unexpected guest, so that they would not feel that she had to work on their behalf. This year, as last, we ask that everyone keep an empty seat to honour those still in captivity by Hamas. We lay a table with Yellow napkins, yellow anything to represent our greatest prayer, that those few who are still alive come home. The cruelty of their captors, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, it is irrelevant by what name, the cruelty, mental and physical that each hostage underwent and still undergoes, is beyond any belief, any level of normal human behaviour. It is the result of years and years of hate education, which is why I am so involved in Impact-se. Only be changing the way children are taught about others, about those who differ from them in any way, can we see the light at the end of the tunnel, otherwise that light is an express train.

 

Do you want a funny story? So last week a very interesting website appeared on our local WhatsApp group. Beautiful fruit and vegetables grown in the kibbutzim of the south. I went on and marked what I thought I would like, but I am useless at gauging weights and so on. Anyway, the order arrived, unexpectedly (I actually didn’t realise that I’d sent it) The produce was absolutely incredible, fabulous fruits and veggies – but my amounts were insane! Right at the front was an entire carton of strawberries – apparently that’s what 5 kilos of strawberries looks like! I was horrified, what on earth would I do with it all – a week before I need it! I put the strawberries on our WhatsApp group asking if anyone wanted to buy some of the produce. Ilana came round and miracle of miracles, she bought all the strawberries to make jam. A few minutes later she came back “I was about to go grocery shopping so tell me what else you have”! Ilana and Rachel stood in front of our packed fridge and they discussed which fruit and veg Ilana would take! Finally I would up with exactly what I wanted and so did Ilana!!!

 

Gosh I made it to the end with one complaint about our government!

 

I’m back from an appointment with Sheli and for a reward we went for breakfast in a local coffee shop. It was teeming! Luckily Zvi befriended the manager (surprise surprise) and he found us a table. I must say that Sheli’s shakshuka looked amazing and I had the Galilee breakfast, equally delicious. Now I am back with you!

 

Kaddish is the Hebrew prayer for the dead, its words reflecting our pain. Here, surrounded by photographs and names of those who were slaughtered on that Black Sabbath morning and the remaining hostages. Yaacov Shwekey  sings the Kaddish https://youtu.be/4H8Newq1BMc?si=ymQL2swRU-LHKSpK

 

I wrote each week about the almond blossom (shkediot) but now if the time for the mimosa. Every hedgerow, every roadside is bright yellow with the flowing branches of the mimosa trees and bushes. Somehow it is appropriate, after all yellow is the colour of our dreams and prayers for the return of the remaining hostages and perhaps, somehow, incredibly far away, the dream of a peaceful period for Israel. I believe we’ve tried everything, politicians from every side of the political map, but somehow, peace is not what our neighbours want.

 

So what about a song for peace to end? I know that you want a saner world as much as I do.

 

Haveinu Shalom Aleinu, we brought peace among us, is an old song with a wonderful new twist. Listen and see what you think, sung in Hebrew and Arabic, musicians from both communities. https://youtu.be/5d_i2F2LlF8?si=a-91zIBTCpDSRk3Y

 

I wish you a peaceful Shabbat, one in which we all learn to accept the other, the different, whether it is the way they pray, the way they vote or the way the love. Until we learn to talk to each other we can never know each other’s life – we can never walk in the other’s shoes; not a mile and not even an inch.

 

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, beautiful Jerusalem gleaming white in the distance. With love in my heart

Sheila​

--

If the media does not inform us we must inform the media

My Website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/

Facebook      Sheila Silver Raviv
Involvement   http://www.impact-se.org/ 

Jerusalem Clocks, Adar and the Kinneret

 

28^th March, 2025

30^th Shvat, 5785

1 year, 5 months and 20 days since October 7^th

 

Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov (new month) the month of Adar is almost behind us and Nissan comes in tonight. A holy Eid-l-Fitr

 

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill; may my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you; if I do not consider Jerusalem My highest joy. Psalms 137

 

Some people I met recently forgot the words of the psalm and believe that Jerusalem is the source of the problem rather than the source of jealousy and our enemy’s belief, understanding, that if Jerusalem falls then Israel falls. The government is irrelevant to our enemies, they understand that Jerusalem is the heart of all our prayers, all our hopes and has been for three thousand years. The stones upon which we walk today are the very stones where the words of the psalms were written by King David, thousands of years ago, the stones where Jesus walked, the site of the test of Abraham with Isaac, in other words, the very basis of our two faiths. To refuse to come to Jerusalem is to give in to the existential threats which surround us.

 

In a lighter mood, I forgot that our clocks went forward, or is it back, no forward, and when I looked at my phone and it said 08:00, I leapt out of bed to bring in the newspaper, scan the news, to see what is relevant for you, do the puzzles, then wordle. I then go out onto our veranda, check all the plants, trees and flowers, look at Jerusalem glistening in the distance and here I am. A little late, but with you 100%.

 

As I’m sure your news outlets reported, we are still in a state of political chaos. I am not sure why they ignore the horrific situation in many Asian and African countries, but they seem intent upon demonizing our government in general and Benjamin Netanyahu in particular. I’m no fan of either, as I have expressed in the past, but this concentrated defamation of Israel and the Israeli government is out of all proportion to its importance. As war rages in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan and so on, the media seems obsessed with Israel. Our war is defensive and yes, Gazans die, yes life is tough in Gaza, but there are too many lies told, such as Gaza is the densest population, no it isn’t; there is a siege on Gaza, no there isn’t (most African countries would be thrilled to receive that amount of food aid); that Israel started the conflict, well we all know the answer to that one; and worst of all, they all seem to have forgotten the darkest day of Israeli history, October 7^th 2023. There is only one way to change their view, apart from changing their advertisers, that is to write to them! My motto is “If the media does not inform us we must inform the media

 

It never fails to amaze me how different countries choose their allies, those with whom they wish to have friendly relations. Since the cooling of relations with Turkey, did I say cooling of relations? I should have said the relations of Turkey with our enemies, our relations with Greece have warmed considerably. The most recent example of this warmth, even understanding came when the Greek Embassy in Israel chose to hold the national day celebration in kibbutz Be'eri.

 

Al Quds is Jerusalem in Arabic. Last Sunday Moslems all over the world “celebrated” Al Quds Day. I put celebrated in inverted commas for a very good reason. Celebrations usually entail extreme anti-Israel elements and the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia needed to strengthen their security as thousands “celebrated” anti-Israel rallies. Surprisingly, the turnout was disappointing for the organisers, I wonder why?

 

Daniel Hagari, the highly effective IDF spokesperson who coped with the toughest period in Israeli history with dignity and respect, has been fired. Why? Possibly because he made a one sentence statement criticising the administration. His firing follows others in highly sensitive positions including Head of Intelligence Ronen Bar, and Chief of Staff Herzi haLevi, probably because they disagree with the Netanyahu government. Both admitted making miscalculations before October 7^th and took full responsibility. They all demanded a Commission of Inquiry into the Gaza war in general and October 7^th in particular. The new Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, is a highly experienced and decorated soldier and will certainly do an excellent job, which has nothing to do with why HaLevi was fired.

 

Apart from thoughts of his family, one thing ran through the mind of Keith Seigal, for the 484 days of dire conditions and starvation. Keith dreamed of pancakes! Not just any pancakes, but pancakes made to hus own special recipe. Keith’s pancakes were made by Israelis to honour him during his captivity and something very special is happening as I write. In Sarona, in Tel Aviv, “Keith’s Pancakes” has opened, just for two days, and Keith himself will make them together with his wife and daughter. That’s so Israeli. Instead of lemons to lemonade we choose the sweetness of pancakes. By the way, slowly Keith has gained weight and is much healthier.

 

The incredible emotional strength of Eli Sharabi is legendary. Here he speaks of his ordeal in English. A true gentle-man, an example to us all. Next time we whine about little things, remember Eli. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHbJVR6NIhd/?igsh=MnZjOHk1ZW84NHhp

 

I remember the days when brilliant raconteur and actor Stephen Fry denied his ancestry, but my goodness things have changed. This week I watched his film “Treasure” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9462944/

 

If you remember, I wrote early last week because we were off on a trip to the North, to the area around the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee. It was amazing. Our friend Noam chose random friends to join the tour which was highly successful; our driver, Ibrahim tackled the winding roads from Druze village to museums and fascinating churches……. But let me start at the beginning. Our first stop was at a miniature museum in Yokneam. After retirement, Moshe Samter began creating tiny synagogues, churches, mosques, pharmacies, in fact minute versions of may wonderful places, all from bits and pieces he found. From there we went to a Druze village and met the owner of the restaurant who is an IDF injured soldier. He proudly told us of his time as a soldier in the paratroopers, with his brigades flag behind him on the wall. We visited the archaeological site of Magdala where a wonderful Irish nun told us of the meaning of the various aspects of the ancient synagogue and the origins of Christianity in Judaism. Gosh Its’s hard to remember it all! We went to a Neo-Catholic site. Fabulous architecture, obviously Italian in its sophistication, and the Hebrew speaking priest who sang Shema Yisrael to us in Hebrew. In all, wonderful people, exquisite views, and to cap it all a story from our friend Mickey Cohen about his grandfather who came to the nascent state in 1891 as a teenager, got together with others and formed one of the first official villages. All in all, a highly successful visit.

 

A few years ago, I told you about an exceptional man by the name of Israel Twitto. An autodidact, barely schooled from a poor home, Israel built himself up, studied life in general and innovations in particular; he now has over 150 patents in his name, but that isn’t his true claim to fame. Israel created a different society, a microcosm of the perfect society. His factory, which began producing parts of air conditioners, is in the Barkan Industrial Park, near Ariel, which many would call in the settlements. Israel Twitto employs workers from the PA and new immigrants. They all receive excellent salaries, full social and medical cover and are able to live good lives. If a young man shows promise Israel pays for his education and he returns to the factory as a departmental manager; if a worker is ill or his child falls ill, he pays for their treatment in Israel; indeed a fine man, a humble man, a brilliant man and I thank the day that Prof. Shimon Shetreet took us to visit him. This week Israel Twitto reached the fine age of 80, just like Zvi, and Shimon was at both their celebrations!!  

 

Yesterday Zvi and I made a rare trip to the city, not because we don’t like it, it’s just such a hassle parking and the traffic jams are impossible! We had a good reason though, to meet our friends Alan and Bonnie Cohen. Our political views are diametrically opposed but they are such good people. Alan has a wonderful way of controlling Zvi’s emotional objections to Alan’s views, he simply says he can’t hear Zvi if he raises his voice. Zvi tries so hard to quote historical proof of his point of view but even though I love Alan, his explanations do not convince.

 

Just a quick reminder for those who say, Israel and the west bank or that Israel commandeered land. I found this fascinating photo from an archive. A map from 1922 outlining the territories of this area as outlined by the British Mandate. https://www.flickr.com/photos/am-jochim/37123876645/

 

As I sit writing to you, I look out of our study window and see the beautiful green almonds on the little tree outside. Our study doubles as a safe room which comes in handy when the Houthis decided to send long range missiles! Actually, a couple from Gaza added to the excitement. Anyway, back to the green almonds. Actually not the Almonds because I’m not responsible for the common ground, only for our veranda! Everything is either blooming or producing new leaves, and blossom promising a good crop this year. The little orange tree is covered in blossom and despite still bearing last years crop, the kumquat tree is also in blossom. The limes are a bit behind but the apple tree (my favourite apple, Ana, has a short shelf life and if picked immediately from the tree, still warm from the sun, is like a sunburst of flavour) already has baby apples on it. The freesias make for scented evenings and the really unusual Irises stand tall, a combination of pale blue, yellow and white, they are magnificent. Each time I step outside I feel a glow of pleasure.

 

I’m not trying to avoid the renewal of demonstrations; it just hurts too much to talk about it. What were once political became demonstrations for the return of hostages rather than anti-government, but the sacking of Ronen Bar and Daniel Harari turned the corner and while always fighting for the return of the hostages, whose lives are clearly in greater danger with the return to Gaza. It saddens me deeply that the voice of the people is not heard. Democracy may be upheld in democratic elections but all too easily those elected can turn the tables and become an autocracy.

 

Back to Shabbat, the weekend and normal Israeli life. When I finish our chat I am going to see Rachel and the children. It is a rare chance to see everyone at once, now that they are not children they are not always at home. Their happiness and hugs at my entry are worth the world. I love the drive over to see her. The almond blossom is still out and the view of Jerusalem from the heights of Samuel’s Tomb is spectacular, like a white jigsaw puzzle interspersed with a million trees; then down the hill to Givat Ze’ev. Coming home is just as wonderful. As I pull in to the car park, the aromas of Shabbat begin. From chicken soup with kneidlach to Hamin, just starting its journey to overnight in the oven. I love the mixture of cultures, of food cultures that make up the real Israel and as I go up in the lift, the aromas change continent!

 

And so to song!!!

Since I began with psalm 137, why not continue with psalm 137? Yaacov Shwekey with “If I forget the O Jerusalem” https://youtu.be/fAFWMQnrU9E?si=mEW8gq_o59GVtiPz

 

Idan Amedi, Jerusalemite, soldier, singer, songwriter, lyricist from the heart, wrote this song 12 years ago. Since then, since October 8^th, he served as a reserve soldier in Gaza, was seriously wounded, physically recovered but every world of this song explains the pain of those who served, many of whom face years of rehabilitation, physical and phycological. https://youtu.be/DPeCNCkydXc?si=dUpg6QRaegWlso1w

 

Uzi Chitman z”l, as opposed to Idan Amedi, wrote simple, hopeful, almost childlike songs. This one is a favourite of mine. Born for peace. https://youtu.be/06FEj7FYEsE?si=sWeio7f7hegDjuiL

 

I wish you a peaceful weekend, a Shabbat Shalom and remember the words of the Talmud “The highest form of wisdom is kindness”

 

With much love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

530 and 80

19^th March 2025

 

Today is a very important day in history. 80 years ago, on the 19^th of March 1945, in the city of Jerusalem, a boy was born to the Rybak family, to Kalman and Alla Rybak. Their joy was all encompassing because they were both the sole survivors of the Holocaust, both families had been slaughtered by the Nazis. Kalman and All’s lives were saved because they were both in the nascent State of Israel. Zvi’s birth certificate says he was born in Palestine, although the political term Palestinian had not yet been created. It says his identity is Palestinian, that Kalman and Alla are both Palestinian but they would not be recognised as such today. They named him Zvi which means antelope or deer although Zvi actually turned out to be a lion fighting for his country, not with a gun but with his words and actions. Happy birthday my love. I know how worried you are about our beloved country but it will be alright, after all, this is just a matter of politics!!

 

I know that you don’t like to hear about the political chaos that we face, but I promised you honesty and I will always live up to that promise. Israel is in the midst of a political crisis, one that feels like it’s tearing the country apart. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, composed of ultra-right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, (the emphasis on the ultra, not on religiosity) has pushed through a divisive judicial overhaul that has sparked massive protests. Tens of thousands of Israelis, from all walks of life, have taken to the streets, fearing that this reform would undermine the very foundation of Israel’s democracy. The sense of betrayal is palpable, as citizens watch their government attempt to weaken the judiciary, while the country’s unity continues to fracture along ideological lines. At the same time, the violence in the West Bank and a renewal of the battle with Hamas added to Netanyahu’s legal troubles and the storm of controversy surrounding his leadership make it feel like Israel is teetering on the edge of a defining moment in her history.

 

Gradually Netanyahu is dismissing anyone who disagrees with him, the latest being Ronen Bar, Head of the Shin Bet and one of the leaders in the hostage negotiations. To complicate matters even further former Head of the Shin Bet, Nadav Argaman, has not only stated that Netanyahu mishandled the lead up to the diabolical Hamas attack on October 7^th, but that he has damning information too. Indeed, many former heads of secret service departments have come forward. The people, us, people like us, are furious. We have taken to the streets for two crucial reasons. The release of the remaining hostages whose lives are hanging by a thread and the determination of the ordinary people to overthrow this government. Our problem is that we don’t have a viable opposition.

 

Roni Alsheikh, former Head of the Israeli Police said - "Who can be happy to live in a country where everyone who fulfills their state duty is fired? Who can reconcile themselves to the emergence of a country where loyalty is to the government and not to the state, to the king and not to the kingdom?

 

I hadn’t realised the importance of the British system of opposition. A shadow cabinet is formed, produces policies and ensures not only opposition of the current government but policy making for the future. Instead of simply raising the failures of the current government they produce a solution.

 

That was not easy. I love this country and there is so much to love. The people are exceptional; our miluimnikim literally give their lives for us; our youngsters are brave and willing to defend their country and the future; ordinary people volunteer in almost every field, ensuring that the families of those who serve, those who survived and those who fell to Hamas’s day of slaughter, everything from going to funerals to visiting Shiva houses to simple things like buying warm jackets so that soldiers will feel the love. We are an incredible country of great beauty, both physical and emotional, and we will win through, after all, this isn’t our first round with fate!!

 

There were many British citizens either killed or kidnapped resulting in a damning report of October 7^th and Hamas and the British Parliament produced  a harrowing report of Hamas atrocities

https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/03/18/uk-parliament-presented-with-harrowing-report-on-hamass-october-7-atrocities/

 

100 Druze religious leaders from Syria came to visit Muafeq Tarif the Druze leader in Israel and to visit the Tomb of Jethro, their spiritual prophet near Tiberius. The visit takes place after Israel's Defence Minister promised to protect the Syrian Druze if they are threatened by the new Syrian government, and to offer them work in Israel.

 

My friend Bryan Isaacs came to visit and this is what he said. “My visit to Israel from March 7-12 felt like many previous visits. No sign of war, seeming harmony between Jewish and Arab Israelis in Jerusalem during Ramadan etc. What was noticeable was a sad absence of tourists. The purpose of my visit was to dedicate an ambulance to Magen David Adom (MDA) in memory of my beloved wife, Helga z”l. I’ve been a small donor to MDA for over 20 years but the October 7 war prompted me to do something significant. I persuaded three friends to match my donation and, on March 10, we unveiled 4 ambulances at the new MDA Blood Center. We were told that this was the largest one-time donation of ambulances to MDA. This morning’s news is of renewal of the Gaza war and I fear that these new, shiny ambulances will be called to duty.”

 

Purim was incredible every town in Israel had parades. Shushan Purim, which is celebrated in Jerusalem, and all cities surrounding in a wall. It is a special day when we celebrate the triumph over evil in the Persian town of Shushan. My grandchildren went to the Shouk, to Mahane Yehuda, in the evening where thousands and thousands of youngsters from all over Israel danced and had a ball. Let me explain. When the shops and kiosks of the market close, their blinds come down and the chairs and tables come out. Mahane Yehuda becomes a huge music bar! Obviously with food as well, after all, this is Israel. It is so wonderful to see young Israelis from age 16 to 60 dancing and laughing as if there is no war, nobody wants to kill us and the time to just have fun is here.

 

Since I started this missive with Zvi’s 80th birthday, let me begin at the beginning. First the dinner part with four March 80 year olds to which Rachel and Ayala walked in with huge 80 balloons; then lunch in Tel Aviv organised by Zvi’s boys, with many friends and some I should have invited but I wasn’t entirely responsible for the list and we ran out of room!  Saturday night was the choir Purim Party, not officially Zvi’s birthday, but great fun and games and fancy dress; Monday and Zvi’s friends from his mini-mini-parliament came for brunch; Tuesday and the mini-parliament came for brunch, today, his birthday was mostly spent answering the phone but after hours of thought I finally managed to persuade him to accept my idea for his birthday present! It’s impossible to buy something for a person who believes they have everything despite explaining that to accept is to give. Anyway, I found the perfect gift!! Next week we are going to hear the Israeli Opera in La Boheme, surely an opera that one can enjoy no matter how many times you hear it.

 

What about Gal Gadot then!! A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! What was so special is that she honoured her beginnings, “Who would have thought that a girl from Rosh HaAyin would be standing here today”! She brought her four children, her husband and sat on the ground touching her well-earned star. Well done Gal, you didn’t let Hollywood go to your head, you have become one the greatest proponents for Israel, never fearing to speak out. We love you!

 

In case you are wondering why I’m writing today and not on Friday; we are going north tomorrow!! We are travelling with friends, a coach not private cars, so the element of camaraderie will make the weekend even more enjoyable. We will visit many historic sites and will have lunch in a Druze village. It’s impossible not to be moved by the Galil, not just by the beauty of the landscapes but by the deep emotions that each place stirs. From the sacred sites to the ancient ruins, every corner of the Galilee holds a piece of something much larger than yourself. There’s a quiet intensity to this region, one that invites you to slow down, breathe in the history, and leave with a sense of connection that’s hard to put into words. Whether Jew or Christian, Moslem or Bahai, the Galilee isn’t just a place to visit; it’s a place that touches your soul. The north has suffered horribly from the onslaught of Hezb-Allah rockets and missiles but nothing can spoil the sheer beauty.

 

When I think of the Galil I think of the beautiful kibbutzim, vineyards and the Hula Valley. The pioneers thought that the ecological answer to malaria and disease was to drain the valley, but then about 50 years ago we understood that the marshes must return or the huge flocks of White pelicans, herons, storks and cranes will have nowhere to rest on their migration. Now thousands upon thousands of birds flock to the valley’s marshes, an incredible sight. I don’t know if we are stopping there but I can always ask! See for yourselves! https://youtu.be/0SOvmwo3bjY?si=mPCOOSgqbKUN6ngJ

 

I chose the music carefully, wanting to honour our heroes. Idan Amedi is from a large and well known Jerusalem family. Idan Amedi is a huge star in Israel and you probably know him from his role in Fauda. On October the 8^th 2023 he, and most of the cast of Fauda, put on his uniform and headed south to defend this country. Idan a soldier in the Engineers fought bravely until January 8^th when a house was booby trapped and he lost 6 of his men suffering severe injuries himself. Since that day he has been performing for injured children and soldiers. He hates to be called a hero but he is https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=LkryYCxSTmlmLyLu

 

Ishay Ribo and Omer Adam sing a prayer. I love the words, their music and the meaning of this song. Listen carefully, the prayer is there  https://youtu.be/PcJ_cXib_TU?si=fnasA52pRafsgHMM

 

I know That this song is familiar because I have given it to you before but it seemed the most appropriate for today despite being written and recorded during Covid by 40 Israeli stars who got together to sing, to give hope to us all. Katan Aleinu - We Got This. https://youtu.be/lHVAWnCXBkU?si=njqqNKgyjIkCg3f4

 

I pray that the Red Sea of hate will open and our hostages, those who have beaten all the odds and still live, those who succumbed to the atrocities of Hamas and those whose bodies were snatched on Black Saturday, will come through to freedom.

I pray that the next demonstration will be one of jubilation as the last men and women come home.

I pray that this Passover the empty chairs at the tables of broken families will be filled with their loved ones.  

I pray that hatred will stop. Enough.

 

With love

Sheila