The day the lion roared

 

22^nd June 2025

The day the lion roared after a year and a half since October 7th

 

Today may not be a comfortable day here in Israel but we are ready for whatever the vile, despotic, perpetrator of the most heinous crimes in recent times has in store for us.

The Iranian regime has been the cause of deaths all over the world, not just in Israel, not just through its proxies. They were ultimately responsible for 9/11, for the Embassies, for 7/7, don't think it is just Israel, we just made the news.

Say what you will, this is America at its finest, not waiting until we were destroyed, but recognising a need to destroy the greatest threat to world peace.

 

In all probability the news media is saying that the Americans are saving Israel – which of course puts the onus on our backs, but the fact is that this is vengeance for all the incidents above, for the war in Afghanistan, Iraq, indeed the entire region. I remember when the Allied troops went into Iraq, I wrote that they were fighting the wrong enemy, it was Iran that was behind everything.

 

The surreal part of the whole situation is that the minute the “get out of jail free” announcement from the Home Command came through on our telephones, life went back to normal. Of course we checked on family and friends but I went to the front door to pick up the newspapers, we made coffee, I went out onto the veranda to skip through the newspaper although everything was obsolete, day old, but the puzzles still called me. I did Wordle, not as well as my clever friend Averil but nonetheless got there, spelling bees to sharpen my mind, changed the bedclothes and put them in the washing machine……….. in other words, life went back to normal immediately. I told you that it is surreal, surreal that we in Israel have become used to the missiles, the reaction is by rote, the trauma will come later.

 

Together with the USA we have taken out the Iranian cyber facility, their nuclear sites and please G-d their ability to set their fierce proxy dogs on us. Time will tell but here in Israel we feel that at last someone is on our side. This isn’t a matter of politics, not a matter of Democrat versus Republican, nothing to do with whether you love or hate Donald Trump, or Benjamin Netanyahu for that matter, it is all about removing the greatest threat to modern society we have ever known

 

Many people ask about the "safe room" so here is an official explanation

In Israel, the Home Front Command mandated safe rooms (Mamads) in new residential construction after the Gulf War, primarily due to the threat of Scud missile attacks. This resulted in the creation of the "Mamad" (Merhav Mugan Dirati), a reinforced, private room within each apartment, or a shared safe space on each floor, called a "Mamak". These spaces were designed to withstand blast and shrapnel from conventional weapons and offer protection against potential chemical and biological attacks. Obviously there are many places where there are only public shelters, but then that is also safe and very friendly. If you find yourself on the highways and byways, there are roadside shelters called Miguniot. Israel ensures the safety of her citizens, all citizens, we defend and secure, but fight back when we are attacked.

 

Apparently the skies and airports will reopen at 14:00 which may sound incredible from where you are and the announcement may change depending upon the situation.

 

That’s all folks, I’m going to hang the washing because it’s a beautiful sunny day with blue skies and of course while I am outside, I’ll have a wander through the trees and flowers to tell them not to worry, we will beat the big bad wolf.

 

It’s time for a bit of British backbone, with the best song to lift our spirits. Originally sung by Vera Lynn, this rendition is with Andre Rieu…. Watch the audience! https://youtu.be/-liqnstteLQ?si=y0T7_ueVq0ayilTY

 

With love

Sheila

 

 

 

Almonds and Raisins

 

Friday the 20^th of June, 2025

24^th day of the month of Sivan 5785

622 days since the 7^th of October and we still have hostages barely alive in Gaza

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

As the TV hosts say “By popular request” I am writing again, but this will be a short one because I am afraid of boring you! Talking of boring, life in this region is never boring. When you are surrounded by potential enemies on every border and the puppet king in Iran decides to send at least 10 metres long ballistic missiles as a wake-up call, life becomes less boring.

 

Beersheva has become a major target and again last night. Perhaps they are after the high-tech industry there, although hitting an oncology department in a major hospital hardly counts as a legitimate target! Please understand, first and foremost that the Geneva Convention rules only apply to Israel, even when we are attacked, we’ve already come to the decision that the rest of the world doesn’t understand the Middle East or the implications of living in our neighbourhood.

 

Leor and three of his four girls just popped in for lunch and the pool. It’s such a treat even if my cleaner just finished making the apartment gleam! We ate outside on the mirpesset (hope you remember what that is) chatting away and then I heard something that they forgot to tell us on the television. The Weizman Institute and the Ben Gurion University Research Centre are also targets, indeed the Weizman Institute, a research institute of international renown, has been badly hit, research of years, maybe decades, has been lost because although whatever was on paper or computer can be reclaimed, the specimens that are the basis of all research cannot. Much of the country’s cancer research takes place in the Weizman Institute

 

As I sit on our veranda – mirpesset – or if I am pottering, taking care of the plants and trees, I often hear the planes overhead, our planes, our pilots, our incredible air force, I say a little prayer for them to come home safely. They really are the heroes of this conflict, flying thousands of kilometres to fight the fight for us, for Israel, for all of us.

 

As you know, I do my best not to bring politics into my missives, especially right now when we are literally fighting the fight of the entire world against Iran, but I have to mention this because it was surreal, certainly to me. Our Prime Minister stood in front of the rubble of destroyed buildings in a city in the centre of Israel, after a missile killed people in their homes, and he spoke to the people, as he indeed should. However, one sentence in an otherwise empathetic speech made me angry. When talking of the effect on those in the damaged buildings, people who lost everything, he said that his family was also affected by this war because they had to postpone his son’s wedding celebrations! What? I’m sorry to mention it, but it was so inappropriate. We are in a war for our very lives and the wedding should not have been a huge affair in the middle of a war.

 

Sorry about that, I know that you prefer me to speak only of the rosy side of Israel, but we have to accept that politicians will be politicians under even the worst situations.

 

Talking of politicians, Former President Clinton spoke (albeit haltingly) about the situation and agreed that we had to do something about Iran, agreed that even as the war continues, we must go into some form of negotiations, agreed that Prime Minister Netanyahu (for a change he gave due respect in using his full title) was hanging on to his position and could stay there for many years to come.

 

Politicians are a strange bunch but every so often one decides that his moral compass takes him to places that may cause him to lose his seat. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz chose to speak out during the G7 summit in Canada. He expressed strong support for Israel in its attacks on Iran.

“This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us. We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world” 

 

Most people around the world have forgotten about Gaza, although the war continues and the determination to bring back the hostages has not lost its urgency. The lies about starvation in Gaza also continue. I can only say that most countries in Africa would give anything to have the amount of food and supplies that the Gazans receive, despite the best efforts of Hamas. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  has distributed a total of 33,450,142 meals, yes that’s what I wrote, it’s not a typo. The organisation says that this amounts to 572,640 boxes. The group added that, on Thursday, all aid distribution at all sites proceeded without incident... “despite operating in one of the most volatile and complex environments in the world, our dedicated team on the ground continues to deliver life-saving aid to the people of Gaza – safely, efficiently, and without incident.” In addition, 74 truckloads of aid went through from Israel.

 

With all the “balagan” that wonderful Hebrew word for utter chaos, the families of the hostages are terrified that their children, husbands, fathers still in captivity, will be forgotten. We cannot let it happen. We have to keep on fighting their fight, their personal war to bring their loved ones to safety, out of the tunnels of Hamas and PIJ where they receive daily beatings and humiliation. There are no meals given out by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for them. Nobody cares if they starve to death while those above them are now receiving daily rations. The families are going through a form of heartbreak that is almost impossible to imagine, no I am wrong, it is beyond imagination or nightmare. The Hostage Square demonstrations have thinned out to almost nothing, not because we have forgotten them but because people are scared off by the Iranian missiles. We have to find another way to show our support, to heal the huge hole in their lives knowing that even if their loved ones return, they will never be the same.

 

I want to tell you about an amazing friend called Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld. Rachel is the Executive Director of the American Friends of Soroka Medical Centre. Rachel loves Soroka, she lives and breathes Soroka, visiting frequently and leading the fundraising and information for Soroka. Can you imagine her heartbreak when the hospital was hit by an Iranian missile – twice? Rachel, I just want you to know that I will help you find a way to rebuild what was destroyed and together with good people the hospital will be bigger and better than ever.

 

So, how are we going to spend out Shabbat? Obviously we will not have visitors, the children and grandchildren will stay close to their safe rooms rather than travelling on the roads at night. Perhaps we can catch up on some sleep, the disturbed nights of this week have left us jet-lagged! I will suggest a walk in our park to Zvi, he’s always ready to walk with me and as long as we don’t do that traditionally English thing (I’m Welsh anyway) and go out in the midday sun! The greatest advantage of where we live is that children can go out to play, be it football or skateboarding, right here and they enjoy freedom while within reach of a mother’s call to the safe room. I really don’t want you to think that we are all sitting at home quaking in fear, waiting for the next bombardment, it takes more than the Iranians to knock the determination to live our lives out of us. One of my favourite things is that in our creativity group we are all “creating” at home! We do whatever we do and then put a photo up on Whatsapp, each giving the other a boost as we compliment our work.

 

Actually, yesterday I went to my movement class, as I think I told you, and on the way home I had a wonderful conversation with one of my fellow dancers. She lives right next to the village library and organises get togethers (is that grammatically correct) for the village and our community. Anyway as we each went our separate was she looked up at the historic building in our park and told a wonderful story of how she and her husband were married right here in the Big House and the park many years ago, certainly before our buildings were even thought of! She told me that she brought in chairs, music, catering and guests, despite the challenge that everyone insisted she couldn’t pull it off – the underestimated Tirza!!! I love these stories and told her that she had to write it down for posterity.

 

I had two lovely phone calls this morning. One from our very special friend Pauline all the way from Melbourne, Australia and one from my lovely Jill in Leeds, UK. Obviously I also speak to my son Gideon in the UK who is probably more up to date with the news than I am and with Rachel right here in Jerusalem. Anyway, I wanted to tell you what an incredible fillip it is to our state of mind when we realise how much people care. I know it is tough for you to be so far away with hearts so close to us.

 

That’s it! I did promise that I’d make it short and after all everything is relative. Zvi has gone to his parliament, in a very limited form, not in the Botanical Gardens but in our local mall where there is a shelter within easy reach. Me, I’m not going to Rachel and family, not going over the hill of Nebe Samuel (Samuel’s Tomb) won’t see the fantastic panorama of Jerusalem, but I’ll be thinking of all of the above and in a minute will drive Rachel nuts by doing a Whatsapp video while she is in the middle of kneading the Challah with her hands covered in the aromatic dough!! I will have to be satisfied with my view of Jerusalem in the distance, the scent of the pine trees and the lemon blossom, the knowledge that we can do this, we can rid the world of a cruel, despotic, theocratic regime that has brough chaos to the world.

 

Shabbat Shalom,  I  wish you a weekend filled with blessings and good will

שבת שלום ומבורך,

What’s that? You want a song? OK I’ll put on my thinking cap but on condition. The condition is that I want to hear from you!!

 

Shulem Lemmer sings the entire and original rendition of October Rain. He writes - “In these times, when we're focused on not drowning in the hurricane of hatred and antisemitism, our personal feelings often take a backseat. Since that dreadful day in October, our hearts and minds have been solely focused on our land and people. From the moment I heard this song, I felt compelled to cover it, as it conveyed so much of what we've struggled to express in recent months. The original "October Rain" was deemed "too political" for the world stage, leading to the release of a more neutral version, "Hurricane." I am sharing "October Rain" in its raw, authentic form to voice our nation's true sentiments”

Still so appropriate

https://youtu.be/D2gBJ58drtg?si=nZB1bUFEwLF1AFXa .

 

Oh all right, one more. When I was a little girl my beautiful Mother used to sing a Yiddish song, she wasn’t a great singer, indeed didn’t sing a great deal, but this was her favourite, and it brings back memories of a far distant childhood and a mother who was taken from us too soon. Roshinke smit Mandlen, Raisins and Almonds. A lullaby https://youtu.be/wsqZCcjxeuA?si=0nUiuHZWm5bSYPds

 

May God bless you that you may be surrounded by kindness and love

 

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

 

PS It wasn’t that short was it? Before Stanley and Barry tell me that I give them a headache I will apologise!!! Don’t forget to write and say hello

 

PPS. What can I tell you, apparently the powers that be didn’t want you to miss out on anything! We just came back from the pool at a somewhat faster pace than usual. We had the warning message on our phones and almost as we walked in the door, we got the alarm both on our phones and in the village. We are now 6 of us in the mamad which tells you just how lucky we are. First reports suggest injuries in Haifa, I hope I am misinformed. Shabbat Shalom seems more like a dream

Early Shabbat Shalom

 ​20^th June 2025

622 days of captivity for at least 20 hostages who are still alive

 

Shabbat Shalom although it’s only Thursday

 

Nothing so focuses the mind as the prospect of being hanged. Mark Twain

 

00:30 Here we are back in the safe room, filling our time, waiting to hear if we can go back to bed or whether more missiles on the way. Watching the news on our computers and ironically finding out about the political barometer of the pizza in Washington, apparently it all depends upon how many extra hours the civil servant’s work. It may sound a ludicrous subject to discuss on the news when virtually all of Israel is sitting in their safe room (if they are lucky), their building shelters or their community shelters, but I suppose we are all looking for something to lift our spirits amuse us.

 

It would appear that the pizza barometer is high, as the United States decides whether to join Israel with more than a few refuelling aeroplanes or whether the Iranians are serious about going to the negotiation table

 

Whew, only the regulation 10 minutes and we shot down the missiles and the shrapnel has fallen without any injuries. Time to go back to sleep and report to you tomorrow. Or Heller is the military reporter of Channel 13 Israel news and I have a feeling that his family hasn’t seen him all week and his ability to keep reporting without sleep has beaten the record of human endurance!

 

We will meet again tomorrow but I was staggered to find out that there was a Pro-Iran Demonstration or rally in Times Square yesterday. The 'Solidarity of Iran rally' was organized by the socialist pro-Palestine Bronx Anti-Iran coalition, which called for support for "the brave Iranian and Palestinian people." with the banner 'Iran make us proud, burn Tel Aviv to the ground” and “US drones in the sky, Iran’s missiles will reply!” Are they serious?  Where are the arrests? To me these chants are treason they take free speech and trample on it!

 

Oh well, as we said, the world is upside down. Good night for now. Let’s hope we can stay in our beds until the morning.

 

07:10 and this time we had the warning and now the siren has sounded twice on our phones and outside over the entire area. At least we managed a few hours of sleep. Over our heads I hear the sounds of children running to their safe room, the neighbours grandchildren after their own home was destroyed a few days ago. The names of the towns and villages which are in the line of the trajectory of the Iranian  ground to ground missiles including our area. It’s strange, I feel no panic, no fear, obviously discomfort although we worry about the rest of our family, spread throughout the centre. The report is of four “nefilot”, four missiles actually made it through the Iron Dome defence.  Soroka Hospital has been damaged. The oncology ward was hit, thank heaven all the patients were moved yesterday to the safe area but then you must remember that oncology wards have radioactive material. All the patients of that ward have been moved to other oncology hospitals around Israel. A very important aspect of Soroka Hospital is that any and all soldiers hurt in Gaza are brought there to the trauma unit, which now means that they must be sent much further away. My first fear was for Sheli who is studying in Beersheva, but she is in the shelter. Ramat Gan and Holon were hit too

 

Yes we are in the safe room (mamad) and it is inconvenient but our pilots fly 2000 km in the middle of the night perform the acts they need to perform and fly back home, the first responders risk their lives going in to damaged buildings, our soldiers ae on permanent alert, so I have no right to complain that I spend half an hour in the mamad watching television on my computer. People in communal shelters, community spirit like London WW2, while checking their phones to see how their family is faring during the 30 missile bombardment.

 

09:20 and I am walking through our park to the hall where we do our Movement class. The park is just as beautiful as always and the sun is still bearable. We began our class with a relaxation exercise and then the music. We began with soft, contemplative music and ended after nearly an hour with noisy fun music – oh and in the middle we had an alarm so gathered in the mamad of the hall together with one young man who arrived for his class in woodworking a little early!

 

Nas Daily posted a short video about Iran and Israel in the 1960’s. Worth watching and learning about the friendship that was and the hatred that became Iran. https://youtu.be/dCY9-rDNtCw?si=LDKUzk8aUpIJFguR

 

Further to the light explanation of Iran/Israel relations, we at Impact have just released an up to date report on Iranian textbooks. Just to give you an inkling of what is happening and why.

“Iran’s textbooks reflect and reinforce the regime’s militarization, belief in martyrdom, and specifically emphasize anti-US and Western sentiment. The curriculum promotes a revolutionary worldview, embedding militant activity and nuclear ambition within a wider narrative of ideological struggle.

Please click here to read IMPACT-se’s most recent analysis of Iran’s curriculum. Iranian textbooks promote hostility toward the West, depicting the US as a satanic enemy intent on destroying Iran and its Islamic values. Western norms like secularism and liberal family structures are portrayed as threats, while dissenting Muslims or those partnering with the US and Israel are labelled illegitimate.

For example, a Grade 9 textbook on ‘Defense Readiness’ claims that the “Death to America” slogan derives from faith in the nation of Iran, which opposes America’s “arrogant disposition,” and calls for death to the “tyranny, aggression, slaughter, terrorism, sanctions, and antihuman policies of the American government.” A Grade 10 ‘Defense Readiness’ textbook explicitly claims that ISIS was formed by the United States.

Iran’s school textbooks include shocking incitement, urging students to chant “Death to Israel” and teaching that Israel “must be wiped out,” embedding hatred into religious rituals and national identity.”

 

If you think that history doesn’t repeat itself-

After Haman's fall, Mordechai issued a new decree:

"The king's secretaries were summoned to write the decree that Mordecai had dictated. on the 23rd day of the third month, the month of Sivan..." (Esther 8:9). It was written for the Jews in their own language (the language that we speak today)

What did it say? "The king had granted the Jews of every city the right to assemble and defend their lives, to destroy, kill, and annihilate any armed force of any people or province that attacked them, including children and women, and to plunder their property. » (Esther 8:11) That's when History changed:

Fear turned into fire, and the Jews were no longer victims, but fighters. This Thursday, today, is that date.

The 23rd of Sivan.

 

Not everything is bad news. I received this from a friend. When good people do good - the heart expands.

My dear friend, Shay Ezra the owner of Ezra Restaurant in Jerusalem - opened the restaurant today in a reduced feature of take-away and deliveries, according to the instructions of the Home Command.

Suddenly a group of 25 fighters from the Shimshon-Kfir unit, came in after returning from their commander's funeral on Mount Herzl. Without thinking twice, Shay welcomed each and every one of them with a hug; sat them down, indulged them with barbecue meats, salads, hot wraps, all the way from the appetizers (the traditional multitude, nay cornucopia, of salads and Iraqi pita straight from the taboon oven) main courses, drinks, desserts. When the fighters asked to pay - Shay refused. So Israeli, so very Yerushalmi (Jerusalemite)

 

Please dear friends, don’t forget Mordechai, his plot to confuse the evil plans of Haman, his decision to dictate the words which changed us from obedient people to feisty combatants for justice. We ae fighting the war against evil, against the determined efforts to change our world, this irritating little country will continue to challenge those who would see us gone, those who encourage death and destruction to all who do not follow the antithesis of freedom. We mourn our losses but just as I did today, we come out of each attack and dance, or just go to work until the next bombardment. I grew up on stories of the Brits during WW2 when most of Britain’s towns and cities were bombarded for nearly 6 years; one of the most popular songs we sang then was written in WW1, "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag" to continue to the second line “and smile, smile, smile” https://youtu.be/suV26OS_XV0?si=3Zo6U_nPW_R6hECr  I know it’s really hard for you out there in the world, you worry about all your loved ones here, even me!!!

 

We all worry about our brave pilots, soldiers and everyone who defends this little country. There is a beautiful prayer which I remember was recited each week in my synagogue in the UK. Here it is sung by a child, Nerya Granot,  https://youtu.be/UlGy2nPg9uQ?si=MfXsbXIBzRWcvfem

 

Keren Peles is a famous singer/songwriter here in Israel. Many of the Israeli stars sing for the soldiers and Keren is no different. This video was made a few years ago, before Covid, before October 7^th, before this ghastly war. I love it! She sings with a young woman fighter. “You Suddenly Appeared” https://youtu.be/KGSBrPc9-os?si=5cFJK9hi4yb9diU-

 

I hope that I will have nothing more interesting than the recipes for our Shabbat Dinner. I hope and pray that there will be nothing special to report although it is my belief that we have to respond to last night’s attacks. For those who don’t understand, this is not a case of responding to something that we started, just remember that they have been attacking us for years through their proxies. I wish you peace of mind and all of Israel a peaceful Shabbat without fear.

 

I promise that we will talk soon

Shabbat Shalom

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/ 

Mid-Week Update

 

15^th June 2025

 

It’s now 02:30 and the warning message came on to our phones, waking us out of a deep sleep. This is the first message accompanied by a strange ticking sound. This message gives us time to wake, go to the loo, get a blanket, whatever you need, or if you are in a building, to get downstairs or in some places, to get to the communal shelter.

02:39 and the second warning to go to the safe area

02:42 the sirens are heard on our phones, loud and clear and outside in the area that is on the trajectory, the siren that wails into the night telling us that the missile is in our area.

02:44 and from the safety of our mamad, safe room, or shelter I can hear muffled booms as Iron Dome does its job

02:52 and they announced that the Houthis are at it too

5 or 6 missiles or shrapnel have fallen in the centre of the country

03:01 and Eli Bean CEO of MDA is reporting on damage to a building and some injured. 2 major centres of damage.

03:03 we see pictures of an apartment block with an entire corner blown off it. We do not know where, it is never reported so that we don’t tell the enemy

03:07 Report of 12 hurt in Bat Yam, 10 in Tel Aviv and 4 in Bilu Junction. First responders go from floor to floor, room to room to check for injured residents.

03:13 Report of several hits, in Gush Dan, near us in Jerusalem

03:16 The latest attack is over and we can climb back into bed but to keep one ear open for further sirens

 

We are among the lucky ones, our safe room is well furnished, we each have a computer on which we can watch the live broadcast from the shelter of the television station with cameras searching the skies to see where the missile falls. The sky is like a firework display. I’m very happy to be in our safe place. Zvi even brought a footstool so that I can put my feet up.

 

On the screen the names of all the towns and villages that are in danger roll on the screen. Incredibly even our little “Yishuv” or village is up there. The incredible volunteers and paramedics of MDA, Zaka and Hatzolah are out there as are the police and soldiers, checking on injuries and reporting damage to buildings. Sadly, we have this down pat, it’s hardly our first rodeo. I am again amazed by the efficiency, and bravery, of the teams. The TV journalists are reporting from their shelters so they send to sound as if they are down a well, which they are in a sense.

 

I feel guilty as I sit in comfort, a guilty can of Coke and Whatsapping the family to check on their safety and sanity. I know that some of them are squashed into a tiny space, others are sitting on the stairwell and others have slept at the home of their family with a shelter. We just heard that in an earlier missile 5 people died in the Arab village of Tamra, in the lower Galilee. Ghastly.

 

I’m off to sleep now, we can talk tomorrow. I hope that this missive gave you some insight into one night in Israel. I believe that the subterfuge surrounding our attack on Iran is truly phenomenal. While the world was concentrating on our undoubted political chaos, the “Royal wedding” of Avner Netanyahu and under cover of the trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, we were planning the most brilliant attack on military personnel and nuclear facilities of the cruel Ayatollahs

 

Morning of the 15^th and we are licking our wounds. Over 250 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel in six massive barrages, with approximately 25 impact sites identified across civilian and residential areas, Bat Yam and Tamra were worst hit and the damage is overwhelming. Tragically, we are mourning 10 fatalities, including 2 children and more than 220 people have been injured including 2 in critical condition.

 

We are paying the price for the entire world. The Iranian threat to you and yours is very real, be it through military attacks or through changing the entire moral characteristics of your country. The other MENA region countries recognise it, but apparently the West is too namby pamby to do anything about it.

 

Have a good day and be aware, please remember, we are the canary in the mineshaft. The CNN, BBC etc reports actually say “Israeli assault on Iran” Are they insane? Have they been asleep for the last 617 days? Have they no moral compass?

 

Again, the flowers are still blooming, the sky is still blue, the sun is shining, but a cloud hangs over the world

 

With love

Sheila

 

Operation Rising Lion

 

13^th June 2025

 

Shabbat Shalom, or is that the right expression under the current circumstances. Let me begin at the beginning

 

It is now 03:22 and Zvi and I are sitting in the Mamad, the safe room, watching the news, as Israel attacks the Iranian nuclear facilities. I realised that the telephone warning was different to the usual siren and when we opened the news we discovered that we will be here for some time, possibly for hours rather than the usual 10 minutes or alternatively, close to the mamad for a few days.

 

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ACROSS ISRAEL: Israel adjusts homeland security guidelines as reports indicate Israel begins strikes on Iran. The guidelines include:

• A ban on educational activities,

• A ban on gatherings,

• A ban on workplaces operations, except for essential sectors.

This is a developing story.

 

We have attacked several military targets throughout Iran including nuclear facilities and we must be alert to the possibility of a major Iranian attack. Suddenly Greta Thunberg and her stupid little boat seem utterly irrelevant, not that she every presented a danger. For the next few days we must expect a response. The Iranian Chief of Staff Muhammed Bakhri has been killed. Going back to bed but staying aware, no deep sleep tonight and tonight’s Shabbat dinner with all the children is definitely cancelled.

 

This operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, has been in the preparation stage for many years according to security experts, including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country. The effort hinged on tight joint planning between the IDF and the Mossad intelligence agency. According to the official, Mossad agents set up a drone base on Iranian soil near Tehran. The drones were activated overnight, striking surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel. Vehicles were also smuggled onto Iranian soil, indeed a brilliant plan called “Operation Rising Lion” although I would have said Lioness because it is the lioness which strikes if her babies are threatened.

 

All operations, planned over the last few years were in full co-operation with the USA. We killed IRGC and military chiefs  and the  IDF intercepted Iranian retaliatory drones. 

 

We just got some good news! The Israeli Home Command just issued a new order that we do not need to stay close to our safe rooms and protected areas because we destroyed the Natanz Nuclear Facility which was the one aimed at Israel.

 

Hospitals are still preparing basement parking to receive patients and schools, concerts and parties are cancelled, but the immediate danger is over. All planes have been evacuated from Ben Gurion Airport to Cyprus and Hungary, just in case.

 

Hopefully that means I can go back to reporting current news and our week’s activities!

 

Greta Thunberg. Poor thing. Talk about a damp squib. First of all they had virtually no aid on board, secondly she, indeed all of them, were given the choice of a few days in jail or deportation. Some of the braver ones chose to be in prison but she broke her golden rule of never flying (ecology and all that) and got on a regular El Al flight, sitting near the back to the amusement of other passengers. Nobody bothered her, but she looked woebegone!

 

The major debate in the Knesset, indeed throughout the country is the haredi enlistment. Through many years of avoiding the issue it is now breaking us apart. Every time we hear that another young soldier dies fighting in Gaza, irrespective of how one feels about that continuing fight; every time another young family sees their father being called up again and again, some serve 500 days in reserve duty because we don’t have enough soldiers, every time yet another hostage is returned for his/her funeral, the anger rises. It can’t be just an issue of Torah study because the Torah specifically says that we must rise to defend ourselves, it also cannot be because they spend precious time praying because outside Israel pious Jews pray and earn a living, it is sadly, or has become sadly distain for our country. Yet again I am not generalizing and more and more young Haredi men identify with Israel, but the hard core do not. It makes me so sad because it is not the compassionate Judaism I grew up with.

 

Penny Wong, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, decided to make a unilateral statement banning two members of the Israeli Government to the dismay of the opposition and many members of her own party. One cannot say that Wong is uninformed because it is a choice. Wong, a member of the LGBT community is so misinformed that she has no understanding that if she lived in any of the countries she supports she would not only be excluded from politics she would almost certainly not survive, since all members of the LGBT community are disposed of. Wong doesn’t speak for the vast majority of Australians. A country that welcomed many Jews after the War. Indeed the indigenous Australians are very supportive of Israel recognising that we are the indigenous peoples of this land.

 

Actually, if I may just address that subject, most of you, if not all of you, live on land occupied by either the present rulers or past rulers. Look into your own history before condemning ours. Nova Peris, spokesperson for the Australian Aboriginal community says it much better than I.

“Jewish people are not colonizers—Israel is their homeland. To deny the Jewish or Israeli connection to the land of Israel is akin to denying the massacres that happened in Australia against us Aboriginal peoples. Both narratives are rooted in deep histories of suffering, resilience, and cultural survival. The Jewish connection to the land dates back thousands of years, including significant events like the conquest by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, which led to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of many Jews. Later, in 70 CE, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple, marking the beginning of the Jewish Diaspora. After the Roman conquest, the Romans renamed the region “Palestine” as a means to erase the Jewish presence and ties to the land of Judea and Israel, similar to how Australia was once named “New Holland” during European colonisation in an attempt to redefine the land.”

 

The Syrian scene is fascinating. The new regime is clearly extreme Islam, the most recent edict states that women must wear burkinis on the beach so as not the show any lily white skin. The new leader, formerly a member of the Syrian Al Qaeda, left that deadly organisation years ago and now goes by his real name, Ahmed al-Shara. He has swapped his military fatigues for suits and has embarked on a charm offensive to convince foreign leaders and his fellow Syrians that he can repair his shattered country and lead it toward democracy. Anything is better than the murderous Assad regime, father and son, who slaughtered 500,000 of their own people.

 

Of course there is more to be told, the Houthis are getting really boring. They know that we will all go into our safe areas and they are highly unlikely to achieve their aim of killing Israelis – please note that I say Israelis not Jews – indeed an Arab home was hit last week. This is not a boring country but oh my goodness it’s such a beautiful country. We are an argumentative people but that’s because we care deeply, even while arguing, nay fighting each other, if anything happens we will run to one’s aid.

 

So last night we went to a fabulous concert in Bet Shmuel in Jerusalem. Miri Mesika is considered the most representative Israeli singer but I didn’t really know her music other than the fact that she has a wonderful voice and appears on the panel of the Israeli Star is Born. Well, what a surprise! She is phenomenal! She has a fabulous voice and give a great performance, dancing across the stage and managing to capture her audience. Most of the youngsters knew every word of her songs and she encouraged them to sing along. Her husband is her musical director and a brilliant pianist, and we loved it! Actually there were several concerts last night; Shlomo Artzi was near us in the Mevasseret Arena, there was a huge open air concert in the Sultan’s Pool, but I don’t know who it was and right nearby and rather noisy wedding! All I know is that we couldn’t find parking so we called a friend and Alan Cohen let us in to their private parking nearby!

 

Other than that, I had all my usual courses, but each was with a difference. My creativity class is very special and this week it was exceptional. Upon arrival we were each given 8 postcard sized pieces of card and asked to decorate it on one side, as a greeting card. Once decorated we were asked to write a blessing to each of the 8 women without looking at the artwork. We then sat around a table and each woman lit a candle and gave a one word blessing to those in the room and the world. Then we each read out our blessings to that person. It was so moving not at all schmaltzy, very special, then we all sat around for our delicious end of term feast. Everyone contributed at least one delicious element.

 

So what more can I say. Obviously Zvi’s parliament, a rehearsal and the children coming for Shabbat dinner are all cancelled, after all, Iran is hardly a stable country and their actions are hard to predict. Luckily I managed to put all the meat that I bought yesterday at a wonderful local butcher, into the freezer and am about to make a special dinner for Zvi and I. Our neighbour Hannah just popped in, she was going to the same rehearsal as Zvi and then down to the Arava to her daughter, but her plans changed and she is staying home and her youngest daughter and her brand new husband came to stay and are busy making Shabbat!

 

We live in unpredictable time, irrespective of where we are in the world. Somehow good is bad and bad is good; we live in a world of instant gratification where nobody actually researches the truth, they read headlines, irrespective of their veracity, and forget the words that follow. In fact, young people learn history from Tik Tok etc, a sphere very cleverly manipulated by those who know no better and those who know full well what they are doing.

 

So let’s get down to music, because it is after all the food of love

 

Song of Hope by Shiri Mesika. It really tells it all. HaTikvah is not only our anthem it is our life. What would we do without hope. https://youtu.be/9eDzojXuMZY?si=AiOq9K1PM-wmvbSo

 

Neta Barzilai has come a long long way since she sang “Toy” in the Eurovision Song contest. No longer wearing strange clothes, singing strange songs, she shows her natural talent in this rendition of Chai. She brings us the very essence of Israel, the very essence of the Jewish people. https://youtu.be/iOPYui6f630?si=sgKKK--0nkWh2eVX

 

The final song is a plea asking you to understand that while we fight, often with broken heart, your support, your understanding can repair our broken heart. Omer Adam and Ishay Ribo sing “Only you can turn our mourning into dancing”  https://youtu.be/PcJ_cXib_TU?si=TQaw2wfm7CFzJM6d

 

What a dramatic missive this week! Dramatic but hopefully one that explains that we cannot simply sit back and allow our sworn enemies, those who demand the destruction of our tiny piece of land. We are better than that.

 

I calm myself by walking around our veranda (OK Harry, so it may not officially be a veranda, wait, I checked it out on the thesaurus and I’m right!)  and touching the hibiscus, the incredible flowering plants whose names I don’t know, the sweet smelling citrus blossom, the tomato seedlings, the acorn squash plants, the apple tree and best of all the orchid plants that are about to flower for the fourth consecutive year. We cannot allow enemies of freedom to take over this beautiful world. We have to ensure that the good people, the vast majority of citizens on the five continents are allowed ot live in freedom.

 

Shabbat Shalom dear wonderful people. I love you for your support, for you ability to go beyond the headlines. Barry my love, I know it’s a long letter but I know you can manage to read it all!

 

With much love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary People

6^th June 2025

86 weeks 6 days since the 7th of October 2023

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends

 

After reading the story of Ruth over Shevuot (Pentecost) my renowned lateral thinking took me in many directions, but they all met up with one word, FAMILY. Ruth was married to Mahlon, one of the sons of Elimelech and Naomi. Sadly, Mahlon and Elimelech died and Naomi decided to go back to her home. We all know the obvious story of how Ruth chose to follow Naomi and adopt her faith, but what was behind the story? First thought was the vexatious difference between taking on the faith and family of Naomi then and the long and drawn-out route to be accepted as a Jew today, but that is another issue. I’d love to hear your opinion on that one. What drew Ruth to Naomi’s faith was the sense of family. The very basis of Judaism is family. Be it lighting the Shabbat candles together, eating and praying together, loving no matter what, family.

 

Right now, in today’s world, families are split by religiosity, by political views, by distance, by so many misunderstandings and it makes me sad. We could simply ignore our current situation; not talk about religion, politics and money like in the old days, or we can sit down and talk openly but politely about what is on our hearts without denigrating the other. No matter which page you turn in the Old Testament, it’s about family, not always agreeing with each other, some where twins are ready to kill over their father’s will, but family nonetheless. The New Testament begins and continues about family, the Holy Family, and the entire religion of Christianity is based on that family. Have we forgotten how to be family? I thank heaven that my family is diverse but loving, but do we talk about our real thoughts? Probably not. How on earth can anyone understand what is happening to us, as Israelis, right now, but it is not by chance that Marc and Chantal Belzberg called their organisation “One Family” because we all hurt, families of soldiers, families of hostages whose pain I cannot begin to fathom, families of injured, families of victims of terror, we are, must be One Family to survive.

 

Decisions made by our current government do not unite, decisions to continue this war, decisions which do not bring our hostages home; decisions to allow two sectors of our society to receive rights without responsibility; decisions which create sectorial hatred; decisions which mean that those who serve the country in Gaza, Syria or Lebanon (some reservists have served 500+ days) while their young children barely recognise their fathers, their wives cope alone, lost their businesses or jobs. To stop the internecine hatred just one decision must be made by this lop sided government, serve those who serve not those who receive.

 

Changing tack completely, did you know that most of the Moslem terror related groups are banned in most of the Moslem countries. Try shouting “Free free Palestine” in Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and if you are lucky you will be exiled but if not, well I’m sure I don’t need to go into details. Sadly, the Western countries have not taken that route, while accepting people from all over the world with open arms (mostly because they wanted cheap labour) rather than stopping extremism at its core the European memory of thought police created a situation whereby extremism was rampant. A famous philosopher Alan Watts asked the important question as to whether that happened because extremists were strong or because our societies are weak. What weakened us? Good question. Perhaps it all comes back to lost family values.

 

The Houthis are not scared of the USA or the UK who made a mediocre attempt at attacking their headquarters, by the way don’t be fooled into thinking that it was to save Israel from the daily missiles; it was predominantly to stop them from their piracy on the high seas and determination to prevent passage through the Suez Canal which in turn caused devastating damage to the Egyptian economy. Again I ask how a country that is so poor that it cannot feed its population can afford supersonic missiles that travel 2,198 kilometres as the crow flies or in this case, the missile. That’s one expensive missile.

 

Talking of feeding one’s population, the decision by the Israeli government concerning Gaza has several sides. Firstly, what other country in the world, in any wars, feeds the very people who are determined to kill them? Secondly, yes, the decision was made to stop the aid going through, but actually after the calculation was made that according to previous loads, there should be a stockpile of 3-4 months of food. One can only pray that the killing of anyone who gets between the caravans of food aid and Hamas will stop. Someone must be able to ensure that the staple foodstuffs reach the ordinary people without first going through Hamas who then sell the said foodstuffs to the people at extortionate prices to fund their ever growing renewed arsenal. I will bless anyone able to feed the ordinary people rather than the fat-cats of Hamas.

 

I have an admission, although I honestly don’t trust Mahmoud Abbas, he is infinitely better than anyone else to control Gaza and oust Hamas. After all, Fatah was ousted in a killing spree by Hamas, Hamas which was funded by………… OK, I’m not going there. As one exceptional friend said “You are the voice of reason” so I try to walk the line but it can be a very uncomfortable. I am, by nature, a truth teller and holding my tongue on the current government decisions is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my writings.

 

A precis of this week’s news since we are all sick of long drawn out analyses!

 

Remember Greta Thornberg with her hysterical videos? Now she’s on the "Gaza aid flotilla" sending out a May Day (still hysterical) insisting that an Israeli drone was threatening the Madleen boat. Well, it was a Greek Coast Guard drone! Greta, time to think before acting.

 

The missiles continue and I thank heaven, yet again, that living in a new home means we have a safe room inside the apartment. Others are not so lucky having to race across parks or down multiple stairs. This war of Attrition is exhausting and aimed at ruining our economy. A shout out to Delta Airlines who decided to not only return but to increase their flights and to Air Dubai who haven’t stopped their flights throughout……. And my favourite, El Al and the Israeli Low-Cost airlines. I have a feeling that Delta realised that the lack of choice has made ever increasing profits for El Al!!!

 

Konstantin Kisin is a thinker and his analysis of the current war in our region is fascinating, taking the situation and breaking it down to the skeleton, First Principles Thinking, without emotive responses. History did not start on October 7^th.  Fascinating. This is one to show your unconvinced family members – if you dare. They probably won’t want to but who knows?  https://youtu.be/O4m_EL9Dj2U?si=ZMByPF4jqxcNGn74

 

Popular thought in Israel is anti-Haredi, probably well founded, but as I always say, one should never generalise. Shai Graucher, inspired by his late father’s charity work, unites US donors and Israeli war victims through lavish gifts, viral acts of kindness and a mission to showcase Jewish unity amid tragedy. Probably best known for his truckloads of washing machines and dryers for soldiers in the field so that they could wash their wet and dirty uniforms in the couple of hours they came out of the battlefield. This shy Haredi Rabbi has done much more. He has been assisting soldiers and terror victims and their families since 2017. The current war sent his efforts into overdrive. opened a fulltime kitchen preparing meals for soldiers and displaced families; delivered thousands of care packages to displaced families and families of soldiers; brought gifts to children wounded in the Hamas attacks and children released from captivity in Gaza. So before we say all – Haredim, Arabs, Christians, Jews, are anything – remember, never generalise.

 

Judi Weinstein Haggai z”l and Gadi Haggai z”l, American/Israeli citizens, went for a morning walk in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the 7^th of October and never came back. Gadi was fatally injured and Judi’s call to Magen David Adom told us that she was horribly injured. They were both shot by the Mujahideen Brigades, who also kidnapped the Bibas family. Both Judi and Gadi were kidnapped to Gaza. This week their bodies were found and identified by the IDF and Shabak. They were given a Jewish burial in Israel.

 

How strange is the world?  Support for "Palestine and Gaza" by the Gay communities around the world is beyond my comprehension. Yesterday Jerusalem warmly welcomed the Gay Parade to the centre of the city. Freedom of expression is rarely abused here and despite certain sectors objections the colourful and joyful parade took place in absolute freedom. Apartheid my foot!!

 

So our Shevuot was spent in Tel Aviv, actually in the neighborhood called Revivim, yes honestly the Ravivs live in Revivim! So we spent the weekend with Ella and Yonatan while their parents went on a fantastic long weekend in Greece to celebrate Noga’s 50^th birthday. First of all the children are so easy that I think they looked after us choosing games such as Taki, Backgammon, draughts etc to amuse us! Their parents, Amiad and Noga, however, achieved a long dreamt of dream and climbed Mount Olympus to the very summit and took out an Israeli flag for their photo! I loved it and am so proud of them.

 

I took advantage of being in Tel Aviv to have an impromptu coffee with my lifelong friend Averil which is when I discovered that the delightful coffee shop/patisserie is entirely gluten free, in fact sterile of any hint of gluten flying in the air. Delicious breads, fabulous Danish pastries, cookies, everything you could imagine. Of course I bought our lovely friend Sha’ela some breads, already sliced for her breakfast toast!

 

Zvi is running an exhausting schedule of rehearsals, getting ready for two concerts, one each for the two choirs which will be held within days of each other. I am enjoying my creativity class and also my mind and movement class, a combination of mindfulness and free movement to music, both of which ease one’s anxieties and mend broken hearts.

 

Our “garden” is flourishing. The little apple tree has so many apples that I fear for its laden branches. I have been fighting the spring winds which threatened to break its slender trunk, but I think I have found a solution. The kumquat tree shows signs of its first blossoms, promising its usual exceptional crop, the tomato plants are beginning to flower and the acorn squash plants are starting to creep across the floor.  Quite apart from the obvious market gardener in me I am thrilled by the flowers, oh my the flowers!

 

The war, our longest war, made me think of Paul McCartney. Yes I know you are struggling to find the connection. Paul McCartney clearly knew his history and wrote a song called Pipes of Peace inspired by the Christmas Truce, 1914 during World War One. The song and its accompanying music video depict this historical event, showing British and German soldiers fraternising and exchanging gifts. https://youtu.be/B3q4Up5ugTc?si=3d5SmKpP5_L0kikS

 

Shabbat shalom, just two words but joined together are a prayer for peace.  In fact most of our songs speak of peace    https://youtu.be/VCMBkxr2WSc?si=3LzEKo3UN5ArIb9R

 

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Such simple words with such deep meaning. United, Unity, Together. Henei Ma Tov. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach who succeeded in bringing young people together through joy! https://youtu.be/A6f0hFHB2fs?si=LJba3R1i5v2Phwiy

 

I wonder if I’ll have time to go down into the village to the Friday morning Coffee-wagon? It has become a true meeting place for everyone in Motza. In fact we have so many events, talks, shows, meetings that we are slowly slowly getting to know each other. On Wednesday Rachel and I went to a truly wonderful coffee shop that Zvi and I found on our way home. Motzeleh makes everything fresh, no bought sauces, no bakery bread, everything made on the spot. Their signature dishes are all Lachuch based (Yemenite pancake/pita) but Rachel and I decided to take a chance and ordered shakshuka. I’m very fussy about shakshuka but I virtually licked the plate it was all so fresh and delicious. Anyway, what I wanted to say was that Motzeleh was full of locals, either from our estate or the village. Community, family, togetherness. So important.

 

I wish you a beautiful Shabbat. Remember that family is not about blood relations, it is about those who care about you and you them, irrespective of outside connections, inner caring, the ability to help and be helped, to give and receive in equal parts, to love and be loved.

 

Be well, be strong, be happy with who you are.

Sheila