11th of September, 2025
24 years since that fateful day in the USA; September 11,
2001 at 3:46 PM GMT+3, 2,977 people lost their lives. The attacks were very
specific, the World Trade
Center, The Pentagon, Shanksville
. The response to those horrific attacks was all out war on Iraq and ultimately
on Afghanistan; but this is Israel and any war we wage is questioned and met
with angry condemnation. Some of those who were US allies in that cruel war are
our harshest critics.
Since few people truly understand this week’s attack
on the Hamas HQ in Doha, I feel compelled to explain. People ask why Israel
sometimes strikes beyond its borders; to understand, you must first feel the
air we breathe, walk a mile in our shoes. People ask why Israel sometimes
strikes beyond its borders; to understand, you must first feel the air we
breathe, walk a mile in our shoes.
Israel, a sliver of land no bigger than Wales, is surrounded not by
distant rivals but by neighbours whose leaders seek our destruction, have never
accepted our existence. That hatred is not an idea on a page; on the 7th
of October it became flesh and blood, as families were butchered in their homes
and hundreds were dragged away. Even now, under Houthis missiles financed by the
Iranian regime, we live with forces that would see us erased. The irony is that
Qatar funnelled money into Gaza and gave Hamas leaders safe haven at Israel’s
request, a sign of how complex and imperfect diplomacy in this region can be.
Our politics are raucous, our arguments fierce, yet whatever
divides us we share the same small, threatened space and the same heartbreak
for those still held in Gaza. Hamas has made life there a living hell, crushing
its own people while holding our citizens hostage. The families of the hostages
hold vigil in Hostage Square, loved one’s photos clutched in their hands, finding
some solace in their togetherness, each day arriving with no news, only the
same gnawing fear.
This is not some far-off peril across an ocean; it sits at our
gate. Before judging, hold that truth in your heart and understand why survival
sometimes forces a nation into choices no nation should ever have to make.
Perhaps now I can honestly wish you all Shabbat shalom.
Two days ago, that broken peace, that hatred so deep in the
culture that surrounds us, burst forth in a diabolical and tragic terror attack
in the Jerusalem suburb of Ramot. The Ramot intersection is conceivably the
busiest in all Jerusalem, cars, buses and people waiting for buses to get to
work or study. Two terrorists hitched a ride over the border from the PA with
blood on their minds and the moment they arrived at their target, began
shooting wildly at everyone in the vicinity, a Haredi soldier and another man
successfully stopped the carnage but not before 6 people died and another 50
were injured. Such hatred, taught hatred, taught by UNWRA schools and the Imams
who should be teaching love of the Quran.
Charlie Kirk wasn’t my cup of tea, his teachings far right,
against blacks and Moslems and ironically pro-gun, often expressing a lack of
tolerance, but he appealed to the young and now he is dead, killed for his
views. Extremism of any nature frightens me and almost inevitably leads to violence.
I don’t know the identity of the killer but he is part of the sickness of
killing anything that is not your belief.
The word genocide is bandied about losing its impact through
repetition and inaccuracy. Every time the word is used concerning Israel and Gaza
it diminishes the Shoah, the Armenian genocide, the Rwandan genocide of the
Tutsi and many more. It isn’t enough to show its fabricated disinformation as a
political tool; it must be fought with all our might. This week the British Government
declared that Israel is NOT committing genocide in Gaza, stating a hope that
the European countries would follow suit.
Talking of the UK, or London to be exact, 70,000
people took to the streets in support of Israel. They walked peacefully through
the streets of Central London flying not only Israeli flags but of the good old
Union Jack. British Jews were always proud of being British and want to be
again. https://x.com/antisemitism/status/1965346800795291854
Kibbutz Beeri is slowly recovering from the diabolical
events of the 7th of October, over 700 days ago. Haim Yellin from
kibbutz Be'eri announced an excellent use for their barley crop! Whisky! As
part of their incredible determination to rebuild the stricken kibbutz they
chose to produce whisky called Single Be'eri from barley grown in Be’eri and malted
in Germany.
Shabana Mahmood, the UK's new Home Secretary, faces scrutiny
over her past votes on Gaza and links to pro-Palestinian activism as tensions
rise. Interestingly this comes at a time when New York is facing the possibility
of a Pro-Palestinian Mayor. A new poll by The New York Times and Siena College
shows Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party candidate for New York City mayor,
opening a large lead over his rivals. According to the poll, most city
residents support his hard-line positions against
Israel. My distress has nothing to do with their religion, but
rather with the fact that their views will affect Jewish communities.
Nothing is new under the sun. This report on the over 900,000
Jews from Arab lands whose land and property was confiscated. The rise of Arab
nationalism and growing opposition to Zionism unleashed a wave of
discriminatory laws, violence, and state-backed repression. The situation
worsened immediately before and after the founding of the State of Israel in
1948, which led to 900,000 Jews being uprooted from their countries of birth.
Most fled to Israel, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people for millennia.
Today, some 99% of the descendants of the historic Jewish
communities in 10 Arab countries plus Iran do not exist https://justiceforjews.com/facts-figures/
El Al made a wonderful Rosh Hashana greeting to the Israeli Airlines
passengers entitled "EL AL wishes you a happy holiday and a Shana Tovah,
one in which we all return home safely". I cried about half-way through. https://youtu.be/XYRraeLgg0w?si=AAlbx9xU2AEArHNi
This was not an exciting week socially. Actually, poor Zvi has been
really unwell with a dreadful cough. For anyone who knows him well losing his
voice was a major disaster! He is really worried that his voice will not return
before his choir’s concert on Sunday. I just want him to be well. Don’t worry,
obviously we both took the Covid test more than once, but luckily it was
negative.
I have been thinking about the repercussions of the disinformation
machine, repercussions on Jewish communities around the world, repercussions on
our moral compass.
About 15 years ago I met a young man in Jerusalem. His name was Kasim
Hafeez. Kaz grew up in a strictly Moslem Pakistani family in the UK, learning
that Jews were the devil and Israel their work. One day, Kaz read Alan
Dershowitz book The Case for Israel and his world turned upside down. His
journey has been long, with many turns and he now lives in the USA and is the Middle
East Analyst at Christians
United for Israel (CUFI),; Kaz is married to Shian. Today I read his
Facebook post and realised that he and I still think the same way. I have taken
the essence of a long post, he spoke of America, I took it as the world. We all
need to absorb the words of this exceptional man. “We should all look in the
mirror and ask who we are becoming. Every word that dehumanises someone who
thinks differently, every attempt to silence views we dislike, chips away at
our shared humanity. Our world is beautiful, fragile and full of
contradictions. But if we truly want it to be better, it begins with us:
resisting the lure of outrage, taking responsibility for our own words and
actions instead of blaming distant leaders. Only then can we begin to recover
the humanity we’ve lost.”
This week’s music was difficult to choose. I hope that you approve
Each morning as we wake we thank the Almighty for giving us back
our souls, a blessing called Modeh Ani. It is a lesson in giving thanks and
taking nothing for granted. This rendition
by Omer Adam is very special. Hope you like it too. https://youtu.be/npRw36_Ftmc?si=An4sCrj-cA0VsJDl
Hanan Ben Ari writes and sings songs that relate deeply to life
here in Israel. Aluf ha Olam – World Champion is one of his finest. Listen to
the Hebrew but read the subtitles in English. https://youtu.be/2jATxza1i_0?si=ZQCJ5Asm8RljmzTG
Ishay Ribo “Habayita” Returning Home. A beautiful song with a
beautiful message for all of us https://youtu.be/Gfs4WgGrhhM?si=LRSfWghT21jSRq7u
I don’t know what the repercussions of the Doha operation will be.
My heart goes out to the families of those hostages still alive and I pray that
they will keep their last iota of hope to bring their loved ones, albeit broken
shadows of their former selves, to bring them home. As October the 7th
creeps around again we must bring them home. Almost a new year, almost Rosh
Hashana, we are in the time for Slichot, for begging forgiveness before the High
Holy Days. Have we done enough? What else could we do to make this world a
better kinder place. I don’t know except that each of us can make sure to smile
at those around us, to have a kind word for everyone, to bring as much joy with
our presence as is possible. Accept those who differ from us, even if it takes
effort, it’s worth it. I pray that before yet another Simchat Torah, the Joy of
the Torah, we can leave this war behind us and bring our loved ones home.
Here in Israel everyone wishes you Shabbat Shalom even though it is
only Thursday. It is sometimes called the eve of the eve of Shabbat!! I had to
get the previous paragraphs off my chest before wishing you a peaceful Shabbat.
I love that about Israel, strangers and friends alike greet you
with “Shabbat Shalom” or just “Shalom” expressing warmly our desire for that oh
so elusive peace.
With love from Jerusalem the most beautiful, spiritual city which
is in desperate need of hope, of renewal and of love
Sheila
Oh boy! You have no idea what happened to us just now! I was making
supper and we received a call from our friend and neighbour Hannah to remind us
to come to the huge patio of the big house for a fabulous Greek evening with
music, light food and arak! I think the entire village came out to sing, dance
and just see each other. It was absolutely wonderful and the Jerusalem air was
perfect, just a slight nip but gloriously clear. Great musicians and lots of
friends. Some of the women (the brave ones) began to dance Sirtaki while
everyone sang along. The atmosphere was amazing, exactly what we all needed. That’s
what I love most about this incredible country, nothing gets us down even when
we are depressed!!!
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