14th March, 2025
Purim, 5785
Purim Sameach. Shabbat Shalom. Ramadan Kareem and a holy St Joseph’s
Day
Once, in a speech in the White House, Sir Winston Churchill said “Jaw
jaw jaw not war war war” meaning that it is always better to talk than to
fight. To find a diplomatic solution. However, when there was no option but to
defend his country from invasion by Hitler’s forces, Churchill was a legendary
war leader whose primary concern was the morale of the people.
The news, both local and international, is full of leaders who go back on
their words then deny ever saying them. Why are we surprised? I don’t know because
politicians have been doing it since time immemorial! President Trump now says
that he will not clear Gaza and turn it into Disneyland, and has come up with
much more logical suggestions; Netanyahu promised that the hostages and the
families are his prime concern yet speaks of continuing the war, then claims
that his court trial has, and I quote “Put me through hell” after screaming at
the judges. There are new negotiations with Hamas, a new list of hostages has
been presented to them and they will choose which of the few haggard and broken
hostages remaining will come home. Yet again, Hamas makes the decisions.
The misinformation at America’s Universities,
and universities all over the world, has predominantly been funded by Qatar. Brown
University is considered one of the United States finest. The Choices Program
in the University has come under suspicion, for good reason; Qatar Foundation
International (QFI) has covertly shaped the Choices Program curriculum,
influencing how over one million students learn about the Middle
East. Over multiple editions, the Choices Program has erased
key historical facts, distorted maps, and rewritten history to cast
Israel in a negative light. I have said umpteen times that Qatar cannot be
trusted, it is not the Emirates, nor Saudi Arabia, Qatar speaks with forked
tongue. They hold out the hand in friendship while plotting the downfall of
modern society as we know it. Countries must choose their allies according to
their interests and it is not in the interest of any Western country to accept
the underhand infiltration of Qatar into our lives.
Well, that was a fun start to this week’s missive! I
actually wanted to start with Purim, to make comparisons between Haman and
Hamas. Haman was the bad guy of the story, the Megillat Esther, the Book of
Esther, our heroine; Haman was the Grand Vizier to the King, King Ahasuerus, aka
Xerxes. Ahasuerus was married to a lady by the name of Vashti and in one of his
male orientated evenings the King asked Vashti to dance (some say naked) before
the men. She refused (Yeah) and the King decided to look for a replacement. He
invited many beautiful and nubile females to parade in front of him so that he
could choose one. Oh, I forgot to tell you that Haman had it in for the Jews, (well
who doesn’t) and had persuaded the King to kill all the Jews in the capital
city of Persia, Shushan. Anyway, back to Esther, or rather to her Uncle
Mordechai who overheard the plans and suggested to his niece Esther that she
enter the girlie parade in order to get close to the King and see what could be
done. Of course, she was an outstanding beauty and the King chose her as his
companion. She captured the King’s heart and when she heard that Haman’s plan
was to parade her Uncle Mordechai around Shushan on a white horse, but
backwards, she spoke to the King, explained that she was a Jewess and changed
his mind. When Haman came to King, Ahasuerus heard of the white horse plan and
that is exactly what he did to Haman! Mordechai was the hero but Esther was the
real heroine and we read her story both on the eve and then the day of Purim.
Many cities around Israel hold an “Adloyada” a strange name which is derived
from the command that we become “tiddly” on Purim, but for a very good reason –
the command is to drink until we cannot define between good and evil “Ad lo
yada” (until we don’t know) so that we will not become embittered and demand
revenge.
Yes, I know that was a somewhat superficial explanation
but hopefully enough to give you an outline. Just one more fact about Purim. Apparently,
Haman wore a tricornered hat so we eat Hamantashen or Haman’s Hat cookies with
all sorts of fillings other than the traditional poppy seed. The funny thing is
that in Hebrew, or in Israel, these cookies are called Haman’s Ears! Strange
really, once it was Haman, then in modern times it was Khomenei now it is
Khamanei, all in Persia – Iran
On the 26th of August 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German Jewess, made
an appeal for an annual women’s day, with general women’s suffrage as the most
important initial demand. She made this appeal during the second international
conference of socialist women in Copenhagen. Today, International Women’s
Day has finally been accepted and celebrated. Most would not approve of
Esther’s approach as told in the Purim story, but they cannot deny that this
incredible woman made her place in Jewish History.
Gadi Mozes came back from 482 days in Hamas captivity.
Gadi is 80 years old. His first words on his release were that they must rebuild
Nir Oz the kibbutz that is his home and from whence he was kidnapped. Nir Oz, a
small kibbutz community of 400 lost over a quarter of its members. 100 were
either slaughtered or captured. His
incredible statement that “We are not the tired travellers; we are the pioneers
of a new path” expresses the bravery of this tiny community. Gadi said that the
community has gone through “moments of terror and fear. I saw on your faces the
existential question marks and the lack of security. I saw the fear and the
anger over our abandonment and neglect by those who were responsible for our
security, but I want to buckle down, to roll up my sleeves and to join all
those who want our home, Nir Oz, to return to being a warm and vibrant home, a
home that has culture and education, health and creativity, hope and security.”
Time and again I am breathless with admiration for those who come
back from the gates of hell and have no thoughts of vengeance.
Zvi has been forced into a level of inactivity,
actually, inactivity is not a word that relates to Zvi so everything is
relative! He underwent cataract surgery on Sunday, although “underwent” is something
of an exaggeration. He went in smiling and came out a quarter of an hour later,
still smiling but with a patch over his eye. Apart from the drops every few
hours, that’s it! His vision is now 20/20, or 6/6 depending upon where you live
and he has to get used to living without glasses except for reading. The ophthalmology
day surgery clinic of Shaare Zedek was run by the beautiful Nurse Maayan, with
her amazing construction on her head, immaculate make up, perfect manicure and
a huge smile, often bursting into laughter.
Purim just reminds us that over the centuries, or millennia,
there have been many enemies, they keep popping up in virtually every
generation. Just like the song “Vehi Sheamda” that we sing on Pesach Passover
“That which stood for our
ancestors applies to us as well.
For it was not only one individual who stood up against us to destroy us.
Rather, in every generation they stand up against us to destroy us.
But the Almighty, Blessed Be He, redeems us from their hands.”
Why are we tested so often? Could it be to remind us what we
tend to forget? Do we take Judaism (or Christianity) for granted and can’t be
bothered to follow the rules? If we were to stand tall and be proud of what we
are, would those who hate us dare to attack? Those are questions I ask my self
on a regular basis. Let’s face it, there is a definite trend toward extremes neither
of which represent the heart and soul of Judaism. Perhaps it is time to come
together in the face of a common enemy?
This morning Rachel sent me what is perhaps the most ironic fact
of this celebration of Esther and Mordechai’s triumph over the King of Persia, is
that whereas the Jews of virtually all the Arab and Moslem States have disappeared,
in Iran the Chief Rabbi Yehudah Grami led the Purim celebratory dancing
outside the Great Synagogue, undisturbed. Whereas Jews in the West have to take
care to hide our celebrations, indeed, in many supposedly free countries to
hide our Judaism, there, in Iran, Jews are free. Definitely food for thought.
Now food for your soul.
Yuval Raphael saw too much on the 7th of October.
She hid in a concrete roadside bomb shelter near the Nova Festival, buried
under the bodies of her murdered friends as Hamas terrorists stormed in,
sprayed bullets, and threw grenades at the dozens of terrified young people
hiding inside. For seven hours, she lay motionless, covered in blood, mostly
the blood of her friends, waiting for an Israeli rescue that took too long to
come. She called her father to tell him what was happening and, trying to calm
her as she lay with the bodies of her friends on top of her, he gave her the
advice that saved her life, to lay still and play dead. Yuval took all her
fears and placed them in her incredible talent, the voice of an angel. "I
decided I wasn’t going to live my life with PTSD. I wanted to turn my pain into
something meaningful," she said. She took a chance and entered the exhaustive
competition to choose the Israeli representative to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Here you hear her sing the Israeli entry, New Day Will Rise in English, French
and Hebrew.
https://youtu.be/IzniNjG4Xto?si=Em-jpiRJVcFzL8q7
Two other competitors were Valerie Hamati and Tamir Greenberg.
Their rendition of Halleluya is absolutely riveting. So different in their
styles they make beautiful music together. https://youtu.be/irEpp0NsgkI?si=H7kHQows9tmPmzNY
The old saw that love makes the world go round has more than a
little truth in it. James Taylor understood, and in his song “Shower the
People” he sings of showing your love, tell people that you love that you love
them, Shower the people you love with love and it will be alright. https://youtu.be/VmRwsKTJJo8?si=j-PakjQRvq07_7Hv
This Shabbat remember to tell everyone in your life that you love
them. I want to be remembered for my smile not for my frown. Give love, make
your loved ones smile, you’d be surprised how it changes your life and theirs.
I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful Sabbath,
With much love from our veranda where the camellia is beginning to open
its fragrant buds, the freesias are blooming, the apple tree has a million pink
blossoms, the Jerusalem Hills that surround us are covered in wild flowers and
the South is blooming with bright red anemones. Spring has sprung, hope springs
eternal
Sheila
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