Friday the 20th of June, 2025
24th day of the month of Sivan 5785
622 days since the 7th 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
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