THUGS HEROES AND RAIN
14th of November, 2025
23rd Heshvan, 5786
Shabbat Shalom, I hope this missive finds you well.
Guess what? It’s raining, it’s pouring and we are thrilled! Our WhatsApp is flooded with photos of
rainbows and the veranda is glistening, washed clean by the downpour! The air
is fresh and the scent of after rain leaves is filling my heart. I’ll do my
best to be concise with the bad news and skip to the good news, but I gave us
both a rest last week with the good news and this week I have to be honest with
you as I promised from the very start.
It's 50 years since the harbinger of modern Anti-Semitism that we
are witnessing throughout the world, was made acceptable. It is 50 years since
the United Nations, Zionism is Racism resolution came into effect. Chaim
Herzog was our Ambassador, and after the adoption of Resolution 3379 he
stood before the UN General Assembly and lambasted them for their racist
action. That is the day it became acceptable to hate Israel.
Keith Sigal stood before the United Nations and did what so few
dare to do: he told the truth. He spoke openly of the atrocities of his
captivity — humiliation beyond imagination, the pain of physical brutality, and
the crushing loneliness of not knowing whether his beloved Aviva was alive or
dead — a savagery the world still tries to explain away. His voice trembled not
from weakness but from absolute clarity. For a moment the UN didn’t see us as
enemies, but as human beings. Almost in the same breath of history, another
truth arrived: the body of Hadar Goldin, stolen and taken to Gaza in 2014, was
finally returned. His mother’s face, carved by a decade of grief, spoke
volumes. Itai Chen was also brought home for burial in this blessed soil,
because Israel brings home its soldiers, alive or dead; that is who we are. Yet
the fact that we had to bargain for the remains of a fallen soldier reveals the
same moral asymmetry that Keith Sigal
exposed so clearly. Bringing Hadar home is not closure, it is a reminder of the
price we pay to remain humanein a world, and a region, that so often refuses to
be.
Now, as Hadar is finally laid to rest in the land he died
protecting, a deeper question rises, one that we alone must answer. Will his
return strengthen our resolve to stand together against the darkness that
surrounds us, or will we slip back into the familiar fractures that have
weakened us so many times before? The price we pay to remain human is already
unbearably high. The only real danger now is that we forget what it has cost us
— and each other.
The world, meanwhile, looks at us with a hatred so practiced
it feels automatic. New York feels less safe than it did days ago. Melbourne
boils with open antisemitism. Countries far from our region speak the language
of peace while calling for our destruction. And yet, in irony almost biblical,
many Islamic countries nearby are becoming more understanding of our impossible
reality — more curious, more open, more willing to draw close.
The Telegraph is a rare animal in today’s world, a newspaper that
does its best to tell the truth. The Telegraph called out the BBC, brought to
light all the bias and disgraceful anti-Israel journalism and finally we may
see the result of the Balen Report that I fought so hard to bring to light. The
damning Report cost the British taxpayer about $500k to produce and then the
BBC refused to publish it. Only now, thanks to President Trump’s legal action,
it may come to light. Baroness Deech, an outspoken proponent for Israel in the
House of Lords, has said the BBC ‘cannot be trusted to mark its own
homework’
Young thugs who call themselves observant Jews are committing acts
of terror against innocent Palestinian families, desecrating everything our
faith holds sacred. They burn cars, break trees, and threaten ordinary people —
all while pretending to act in God’s name. As an Israeli, I am heartsick and
furious. This is not Judaism and not love of this land. They are not defending
Israel — they are wounding her soul. This is not who we are. Not in my name.
On the other hand, and there is always another hand, the head of
the Christian Kateb Party of Lebanon, Samy Gemayel, supports peace talks with Israel
and accused Hezb-Allah of obstructing all efforts toward peace. Hezb-Allah is
again breaking UN Resolution 1701. The resolution calls for a full cessation of
hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah,
the withdrawal of Hezbollah and other forces from Lebanon south of the Litani
River, the disarmament of Hezbollah and other
armed groups, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, with no armed
forces other than UNIFIL and Lebanese military south of the Litani River,
which flows about 29 km north of the border. Hezb-Allah is rebuilding and
rearming their aggressive tactics create a situation whereby Israel has no
choice but to react. However, if Samy Gemayel is successful, perhaps Lebanon
will go back to being a Christian country the way it was meant to be.
Golda Meir best explained the situation we find ourselves in today
way back in 1973. https://youtu.be/7Q5PZIBkQck?si=vpG88yITvrXO7XSx
This weeks Torah reading is called Chayei Sarah or the life of Sarah,
Abraham’s wife. The interpretation of this section, this reading, underlines all
future conflicts in this region and the modern world.
Sarah and Abraham were married for 10 years without any sign of an
heir. Hagar was Sarah’s maidservant who Sarah chose to be a surrogate and
provide Abraham with an heir, but once Hagar became pregnant, the tension in
the house exploded; Hagar felt herself more important and was very rude to
Sarah. After things finally broke down, she ran away with her son only to be
met by an angel who told her that God saw her pain and that her son, Ishmael,
would grow into a great nation. Later, when Abraham sent her away again it begs
the question; did he really abandon her or was he simply creating space between
two women who couldn’t live under the same roof? Maybe he sent her to another
part of his land, a place where both sons, Yitzchak (Isaac) and Ishmael, could grow
up together.
Staying with great women -
On the lighter scene, Kim Kardashian decided to bring SKIMS, her
multibillion-dollar shapewear brand, into the Israeli market. With many millions
of followers, it’s a powerful message in a time when so many celebrities cave
to pressure. You rock, Kim and good for you for moving on from your disgusting
Ex.
Gal Gadot, a true “Wonderwoman”, has won the million dollar Genesis
Prize for her incredible work promoting Israel and motherhood. Of course she
will choose a charity to donate her win. Well deserved
Noa Kirel, a sweet and hugely talented Israeli star, married the
love of her life, football star Daniel Peretz in a relatively small ceremony,
the big party to follow. Noa Kirel is huge but has never lost her natural
kindness and quality.
This was an insane week, busy beyond imagination, something that
keeps us on the ball and rather tired! I had a wonderfully quiet Shabbat and
then it all went crazy. Monday morning we met some of Zvi’s choir friends in
the Ella coffee shop and that evening we went to a new restaurant near us
called “Motza” with Harry and Nancy Bloomfield, from Montreal. The food wasn’t that
good but the service was wonderful, especially when they heard Harry and Nancy’s
surname; everybody knows the Bloomfield football stadium! The young waiters
were amazing, the house brought us “shots” and dessert on-the-house and fun was
had by all. However, there was something that I recognised about one smiling
young waiter and I managed to talk to him over the jubilation that surrounded
us. “Tell me about yourself, I see sadness behind your smile” “I lost my brother
in the Nova Festival and I can’t seem to recover my joy” Had there been less
people at the table and easier access to him I would have given him a hug –
sadly I know that pain but for different reasons.
The next day, Wednesday, was split in to 3 sections! Firstly I went
to say farewell and wish a wonderful trip to my incredible, beautiful, bright
granddaughter Talia who was off on a big adventure to Latin America, starting
gently with the natural hospitality of our friends Martin and Helene in Miami.
I miss her vibrant personality already! I then rushed home to open the door for
the window man who had to repair something small and then our friends Merle and
Frank Friedman arrived, a wonderful chance to sit and natter with two wonderful
people before setting off for a huge event for the opening of a highly luxurious
and exquisite assisted living where Merle and Frank have a huge apartment. Here,
assisted living doesn’t mean and Old Age Home as it once meant, it is simply a
place where you live a perfectly normal, active life with all the facilities
should something go wrong. Classes, lectures, theatre, elegant lounge,
beautiful dining room and wonderful gardens, and best of all it is around the
corner from us so we can see them frequently! They stayed over and we sat to have breakfast
together which is a rare treat. Last night we went to Maccabim-Reut for a
delightful dinner with Inbal and Marcus Sheff (yes Impact-se’s outstanding CEO).
Their home is phenomenal, a rebuild after their former home became untenable. Delicious
food Inbali! Tonight, we have Zvi’s boys and families for Shabbat Dinner. I am
making it easy on myself, a home-made soup from the freezer, salmon, roast
veggies, Amiad’s home-made pizza, lots of salads, and a bought cake with
ice-cream for dessert. Tomorrow we have nothing! Shabbat will really be a day
of rest!
I am already excited to hear Zvi’s beautiful voice reciting the
blessing over the wine and then the children all place their hands over the
cover for the Challah and recite the blessing over the bread. From then on, it’s
a free for all!
And so to music.
Idan Amedi, despite his fame left everything on October 7th to put
on his uniform and fight in Gaza. He was badly injured and while recovering he
wrote this song. He doesn't see himself as a hero, indeed he rejects the very
idea. He sang this song at the funeral of Hadar Goldin and in his speech he
stressed the fact that it was the people, not the government, that brought
Hadar home. We must not forget that there are 3 more bodies to bring home. https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=QwHtuRO_gPyDElbk
Everyone is a hero seems an odd title for a song but that’s what happened
for two years of our life and they deserved a song just for them. As the song
says, everyone look normal but we are a notion of heroes. https://youtu.be/EjCVg_aYfp8?si=hUYt-KEW36p3fBcR
Let’s end won a high note with “Rak b’Yisrael” Only In Israel, a
fun song which describes life here best of all! https://youtu.be/i-7EvfJje88?si=uWwwy6AeqOVIuVS7
Shabbat, ah Shabbat, the Sabbath, the day of rest, created so that
we can distinguish between the days of the week and the day that the Almighty
stepped back and after admiring his work, rested. It may be the day you choose
to go to the beach or to spend the day in prayer, either at home or in a
synagogue or church or mosque; it is irrelevant, as long as you remember that
this world is a miracle and it’s time to stop those who would destroy it and
the peace of Shabbat.
It's time to get cooking, to set the table, prepare whatever is
left to prepare so that I can go to visit Rachel and the children. I hope I’ll
manage it because it is an important part of leading up to Shabbat for me. The
candles are already in the candlesticks, one each for each of the families of
our children, one for the hostages so that I will not forget that there are
still 3 families waiting for closure and two brightly coloured ones for my incredible
memories of my son Daniel z”l.
That’s it!! Shabbat Shalom to each and every one of you, my
friends, my close friends even if we don’t know each other! With love from the
eternal city of Jerusalem, the golden city on a hill.
Sheila
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