irony, Demonstrations and Alon Ohel
31st of October 2025
755 days since the 7th of October 2023
9th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan 5786
Shabbat Shalom dear friends, lots to report, good bad and ugly,
but, as always, with the sun shining on our lives
You may well ask why I still put the number of days since the
horrendous events of the 7th of October, 2023; basically, because
even now, two years on, that day rules our lives and our emotions.
Yesterday many of those emotions came to boiling point. We didn’t
attack the demonstrators; we did moan about the road closures at the entrance
to Jerusalem and on the CocaCola intersection in Bnei Brak, but inside we
boiled in frustration. About 250,000 Haredi demonstrators blocked both roads, with
the intention of - here I will split into two thoughts -supporting the learning
of Torah over defending the country and/or the slogan of “Die before conscription”,
in other words, refusal to defend the very country they live in and for many,
refusal to recognise this incredible Jewish country that nurtures them. Since
Torah above all is another slogan surely most of the heroes of the Torah fought
bravely, indeed were called to defend our country. I watched able-bodied young
men climb huge cranes on the building site next to the demo, risking their
lives, yet unwilling to serve in the IDF. Their Rabbis believe that if they go
into the IDF they will lose their religious identity, become secular, despite
the fact that the IDF has created totally kosher and halachically sound
(according to Jewish law) divisions, and that is what they teach their Yeshiva
(Jewish school) students. It is my belief that if their beliefs are so tenuous
then they have a problem. Young Israeli fathers, sons and husbands are risking
their lives, serving 500 days of Miluim (reserve duty) away from their families,
just because the IDF is short of capable young people. These young men who
minds have been sharpened by their study of the Torah, must, should, have to,
understand that others are enabling their normal lives by risking and losing
theirs.
A fascinating scene, caught on camera, at the central bus station
in Jerusalem. Two moving staircases carry young Haredi boys and men up to
street level whereas the down staircase carries soldiers on their way home from
duty. The amusing and telling fact is that all the soldiers had big smiles on
their faces, waving to those on the up staircase whereas the young haredi men
stared in disbelief at those next to them. The scene held an ironic sense of
reality.
I know, other demonstrations have closed roads, however they last a
short time, pray for the return of hostages, clear up after themselves and
carry Israeli flags. Yesterday, after the majority had left for home, young men
of the Jerusalem Faction, threw bottles and planks at police, seriously
injuring one, and ran riot. Rabbi Jeremy Rosen explains the history of where
the Haredi community is today https://jeremyrosen.com/2021/04/whats-wrong-with-us.html
A truly magical Israeli moment happened in the Central bus station
in Jerusalem when an Orthodox soldier sat and played the piano for hundreds of
Haredim on their way to the demonstration. What was that we said about irony?
Love it! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-cPoR6QaDwc
Enough of that, so many things are happening in this neck of the
woods that it is crazy to concentrate on this incident – although obviously its
connection to the 7th of October is clear.
Slowly, ensuring the pain continues, the bodies of the slain
hostages are returning. As the ambulances containing their remains pass through
their former homes, the streets are lined with Israelis holding flags which
they drop to half mast as the cortege passes, and as it reaches to Abu Kabir,
the forensic institute for identification, police stand to attention and salute.
In a surprise admission the Red Cross
actually put out a press statement that they regret not having done enough in
regard of the hostages. In a strange twist of fate Israeli human rights organisations
have taken the step of insisting that the international Red Cross should reinstate
the right to visit Palestinian prisoners in Israel. It has now gone before the
Supreme Court. Yet another Middle Eastern irony!
Talking of pain, of division in this little country, it is an
incredible 30 years since the assassination of Prime Minster Yitzchak Rabin at
a peace rally in Tel Aviv. Perhaps the culmination of the left-right division.
Yitzchak Rabin, a straightforward speaker who was the antithesis of a
politician. He was a shy military leader who did not fit the pattern of
politician and was reluctantly willing to sign an agreement with the enemy of
Israel, pushed to shake hands with him by President Clinton. I knew him,
watched him, admired him, miss the fact that he was not a great orator but when
he spoke, he spoke the truth. His assassination by a Jewish extremist broke us.
It is my belief that we never fully recovered, the rift never healed. Had he
been Prime Minister now, the 7th of October would probably not have
happened, the Hilltop Youth would be in jail and who knows, maybe, just maybe,
an agreement with the haredim may have been reached. His government was formed
on June 3, 1974, by the Alignment party with coalition partners including the
National Religious Party, and the National Security and Police Minister was
Shlomo Hillel, an experienced and fine man who understood national security
better than anyone else of his generation. We are still mourning the loss of a
great man who sought to unite rather than divide.
This weeks Torah reading “Lech Lecha” meaning Go Forth, foretells
today’s situation. The Almighty sends Abram and Sarai (Abraham and Sarah) forth
and bequeaths the Land of Israel to Abraham and his seed. Ironically (there’s that
word again) Sarah couldn’t conceive and told Abraham to take another wife to
give him an heir. He chose Hagar, who gave birth to Ishmael. As usual two women in one house didn’t work,
Sarah complained that Hagar was disrespectful, Hagar was distressed at the way
that Sarah treated her and she left the house with her son. Apparently, after
leaving, they didn’t cope well in the desert and Ishmael fell ill which is the
start of the whole story of the descendants of Abraham and his son Ishmael. The
rest, sadly, is history.
Anticipating the
inevitable “day after,” IMPACT-se has spent over a year developing a
comprehensive alternative curriculum for Gaza—free from antisemitism, violence,
and the martyrdom culture that fuelled the horrors of October 7. Our curriculum
is already being taught to 2,000 Gazan children in educational settings in
Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis and is soon to expand to 6,000 students across two
additional locations. An alternative to extremist jihadi education in Gaza’s
schools is now a living reality.
Crucially, our
curriculum is now supported by key international partners. Most importantly,
the U.S. State Department has expressed its support, and we are
working directly with the U.S. administration’s lead on Gaza education on
curriculum development, teacher screening, and training—ensuring a
values-based, scalable implementation. This marks a significant breakthrough
toward replacing extremist education in Gaza. https://www.impact-se.org/
I love Eylon Levy, am furious that he was fired as Israel’s spokesman
in the Foreign Ministry. His response to Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry’s
suggestion of an ice-cream flavour in support of Hamas is iconic! Please see
this 40 second vid and have a good giggle https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQZPYuRDfgd/?igsh=OGxxdzNzMTB5ajAx
A diversion from the local news, my son Gideon and his son (my
grandson!) Zachary arrived last Sunday for a short but exciting visit. They
were on the first British Airways flight from London, the first flight since
war broke out. When the plane landed, the ground staff stood and applauded the
crew as they left the plane! Only in Israel. So began an incredible two and a
half days in Jerusalem, two and a half days where we successfully fitted two
weeks worth of activity. It is a long time since Zacky had been here, and his
memories were faint, so we set out to really “do” Jerusalem and ensure that he
had loads of good Israeli food. One of the days Yosef took his uncle and cousin
on a trek up north to visit springs and waterfalls of the Golan. They climber
tracks and swam in freezing pools, Yosef running like a gazelle over the rough
ground and climbing hills, smiling as Gideon and Zacky bravely tried to keep up
with him. That night we are at a local meat restaurant. We went to the
Kotel with Rachel, Talia and Ayala, I took the car into the Kotel parking while
they walked back up through the Jewish Quarter. We then went to Mahane Yehuda
which I believe to be the most “Yerushalmi” place in Jerusalem. It was great
fun and we had lunch in “Pita Basar” a fun food place in a market full of good
food places! That night they met up with
Ira, Sheli and Tomer and we just ordered Pizza, preferring to talk than cook! The
next morning Zvi took them to the Knesset to meet Meirav Cohen, an excellent
Member of Knesset, Zacky ready with highly relevant questions, and Zvi combined
it with a visit to the National Library. They then packed and I took them to
Tel Aviv for R&R. Sadly they are already home after a rushed visit but it
was absolutely wonderful. Both of them well informed, reading material about
Israel and doing their best to understand the complexities of this wonderful
mosaic of humanity.
Beds changed and our lovely friend Kim Taylor
arrived last night after a gruelling journey from Western Canada. Kim will take
part in the Keren Hayesod/Jewish Agency Board meetings this week, an important
member of both the Aliya and the Government Relations Committee. Tomorrow we
are very excited that our Australian Ian Gandel is coming to us before a YPO
mission begins. We have so much to talk about. Then, on Sunday as Kim leaves
Zvis cousin Jack Gottlib is coming to stay before leaving for home in Mexico.
That is our life, and thank heaven tourism is back and thriving in Israel.
And so to music, which for me is food for the
soul
For the first time since being abducted to Gaza over two years ago,
released hostage Alon Ohel sat behind a piano in public, this time on the set
of Israel’s beloved satirical show Eretz Nehederet, the country’s version of
Saturday Night Live. It was more than a television moment; it was a national
heartbeat. As Alon’s fingers brushed the keys and the first notes of “Under the
Sky” — the classic by Meir Ariel and David Broza — filled the studio, not a
single eye remained dry. I dare you not to shed a tear https://youtu.be/uAcGsa87Mt0?si=_BD6Nz1Dr0i87Ke3
The second song was beloved of Yitzchak Rabin. As a member of the
Palmach, before the founding of the State, he felt the camaraderie, brother’s
in arms, was an essential part of the fight, camaraderie in Hebrew is Reut. https://youtu.be/4SP3jOQY6bc?si=udY1HT4ssFcZBSNF
Talking of Brother in Arms, Mark Knopfler wrote this song long ago
but for me it is deeply relevant today. The Brother in Arms organisation here
in Israel with Hebrew lyrics. I love it. You already know the English Lyrics. https://youtu.be/GHNY_L5Hw1w?si=_IytIRrilrXXyopT
May their IDF uniforms be used for
ceremonies alone, may they all come home to the safety of an Israel at peace
with her neighbours.
I wish you Shabbat Shalom, a Shabbat where the leaders of this
crazy world understand that given half a chance, we really are a light unto
nations. As Golda Meir said “There are many Arab nations with thousands of
square kilometres of land and Israel is just 1% of it” It’s time to let us live
in peace.
With love from Jerusalem
Sheila
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