PARANOIA, DIOKOPHOBIA OR PLAIN TRUTH
1st of May 2026
14th of Iyar 5786
Shabbat Shalom Dear Friends! Shabbat Shalom and a happy May Day.
As a child I remember dancing around a May Pole, well actually it
wasn’t me dancing around a May Pole but I remember film and photos of young
people weaving and plaiting the ribbons which then magically untangles! Such
wonderful, innocent memories. I wish children today could have those memories rather
than glued to their phones alongside parents equally glued; but then I always
was a dreamer.
Back to cruel reality and the acceptable antisemitism
around the world. I learned yesterday that the police in Sydney, Australia,
were warned about an attack on Jews before Bondi Beach, but didn’t take it
seriously, not because they hate Jews, but rather because they didn’t believe
there would be an attack of this nature in Australia. Perhaps the police felt
it was paranoia whereas it was, in fact, a well based case of diokophobia, the
technical term for the fear of being chased. Thus it was in Michigan,
Manchester and now London. What causes it? This intense, often groundless
dislike is also described as animus, malice, enmity, bile, vitriol, and
prejudice, but is far simpler than that; it is well coordinated and planned
antisemitism, taught, viewed, read and above all the uncontrolled use of TikTok
and the like.
Perhaps it is coincidence, perhaps not, but the attack on Jews in
London coincides with the anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s suicide alongside
Eva Braun April 30th in 1945.
There is something rather unsettling in
the echoes of history. After the false messiah Shabtai Zvi betrayed the hopes
of so many by converting to Islam, countless Jews were left devastated. For
some, the disappointment was so profound that they abandoned not only him, but
in some cases their connection to Judaism itself. The sense of betrayal ran
that deeply. At times, I can’t help but wonder whether we are witnessing a
modern version of that same painful phenomenon; the danger of misplaced faith,
grand promises, political certainty, or ideological extremes that ultimately
leave ordinary people disillusioned. Once again, many are being asked to place
their trust in narratives of redemption, only to find themselves facing the far
more familiar reality of Israel continuing its enduring struggle for survival. My
concern is not simply political, but communal. For Jews around the world,
particularly those already wrestling with identity, rising hostility, and moral
confusion, profound disappointment can become deeply corrosive. When
controversial governments or troubling decisions create alienation, there is
always the risk that some may distance themselves not merely from policy, but
from their peoplehood itself. History reminds us that disillusionment can have
lasting consequences, and that is why clarity, honesty, and a grounded sense of
Jewish continuity matter now more than ever.
Israelis, in particular, and Jews in general have a
seemingly natural tendency toward positivity and hope, after all that’s the
name of our Anthem, and seeing a gathering of forces of the Israeli Opposition
represents hope and renewal for us in Israel. Instead of infighting, Lapid and
Bennett have joined forces and Eizenkot will probably join them. It doesn’t
mean that our enemies will suddenly love us and we will live in everlasting
peace, but it offers a more positive vision of change. A vision of a government
that doesn’t use the “divide and conquer” policy, a strategy employed by this
or any government to create or exploit internal divisions to maintain control,
often leading to deep social fracturing. What so many of us long for is not
uniformity, but unity, a return to being a strong, resilient society capable of
holding many different views while still recognising our shared future. In a
country as diverse and passionate as Israel, that may be one of the most
hopeful visions of all.
The country is in turmoil over the killing of a young man on
Yom Haatzmaut. Eight or nine youngsters were using the spray party foam to
celebrate our Independence; hardly a problem, but they were doing so inside a
pizza parlour and Yemanu Binyamin Zelka z”l who was on the night shift, asked them to stop
spraying inside the shop. They went away then came back and stabbed him to
death. This is Israel where youngsters grow up with a sense of responsibility,
it is something that we have never seen, but it is happening. Something is
happening that Israelis don’t understand; something frightening is happening where
youngsters feel they can kill someone with impunity. They have been caught and
will undoubtedly serve long prison terms, but they killed Yemanu and ruined
their own lives, and the lives of his and their families.
Enough! Enough doom and gloom, let’s look on
the bright side!! For one, we haven’t needed our safe room for some time now! Yes,
I am sitting typing, writing to you in that room and true that I haven’t drawn
back the heavy, metal guard across the window, but life has returned to normal
and we look forward to Lag b’Omer, the 33rd day of the counting of
the Omer, 49 days between Passover (Pascha) and Shevuot (Pentecost); a period
very similar to Lent in its restrictions. Many young couples marry on Lag b’Omer
because they can have music and dancing at their celebrations. Youngsters’
light bonfires and camp out, beside their bonfires made of carefully gathered
wood and twigs, although the glorious weather has dried the earth and grasses
making it a problem in terms of starting bush fires. I suppose every good thing
has its setbacks which can be solved by following the rules. This festival
expresses our positivity more than any other because it is a celebration of the
passing (yahrzeit) of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Simon son of Yochai) a master of
Kabbalah and author of the Zohar who instructed his students to mark the day
with joy rather than mourning. The bonfire represents that light that Bar
Yochai brought to the world. Haredim celebrate in Meron near Shimon ben Yochai’s
grave by lighting a special beacon and dancing.
Things are changing in the Rabbinical Court. For
the first time in Israel’s history, and thanks to a High Court emergency
injunction that ended a delay of several hours, three women took the rabbinical
exam administered by the Chief Rabbinate on Monday. The Rabbinate begrudgingly
allowed women to take the test, which is given to men seeking rabbinical
ordination, after a landmark High Court decision in July, following a
years-long legal battle. The exam is part of the series of tests on Jewish law
taken by rabbinical candidates.
The State Department’s determination
that PA textbook incitement should carry real consequences, based on our
research, is gratifying, and a testament to IMPACT-se’s determined work over
many years alongside multiple administrations in Washington is finally paying
off. European Parliament urged a funding freeze over PA textbook hate. The vote
comes after the PA’s repeated empty assurances to the EU that textbook reform
has been implemented, claims that are clearly and consistently contradicted by
IMPACT-se’s research. You can check it out on our website www.impact-se.org
Talking of Impact-se, the New York Post wrote about our research into
Iranian textbooks. https://nypost.com/2026/04/25/world-news/iran-released-vile-textbooks-instructing-children-to-destroy-great-satan-us-and-israel/
Congratulations to Israeli epee fencer Dov
Vilensky for winning the gold medal at the under 23 European
Championship in Italy! Raz Hershko won gold in the Judo European
Championships. Gymnastics (Osijek World Cup): Artem Dolgopyat won a gold
medal in the floor exercise at the World Cup in Croatia. Every week another
Israeli athlete wins gold; it’s in our DNA to compete in sport, despite all the
jokes to the contrary!!
So what’s happening in our world? Next Wednesday Zvi is singing
with his choir at the Jerusalem Theatre with the exceptional David De’Or.
Of course, this means that he has been out most evenings at rehearsals to
ensure harmony.
Last Saturday an old friend of Zvi’s came for afternoon tea with her
husband, and it was fascinating to hear stories of Zvi’s period in university
and his many adventures in charge of culture which, of course, led to his organizing
demonstrations for the Soviet Jewry, the first in the world in 1969, his
argument with Golda and the start of the Soviet Jewry Campaign “Let My People
Go”. That was a digression of a proud wife, definitely allowed!! Anyway, we
sat at the table with the usual challah, cheeses, egg salad, dips and crudites
etc, and they barely ate we were so immersed in the stories. Anyway, they left
and the Friedman Family, Merle, Frank and Kevin who came to help his parents
move in to the new apartment, arrived, ready to go out for a meal together. We
looked at the laden table and we all decided that we prefer to stay and natter
about everything, including the fact that Merle and Frank’s move into their new
apartment is imminent. Much better than any restaurant. I also discovered that
Frank and Merle love Matza which eased the problem of what to do with leftover
Matza from Pesach!!
I have been meeting friends in our local coffee shop, within the
wellness centre, run by three young people who suffered extreme PTSD after the
Nova Festival. I also went to Abu Ghosh to the plant nursery and bought a whole
load of flowers to plant. They are still tiny but beginning to acclimatize to
their new surroundings to give us the pleasure of their bright colours.
Tomorrow, we celebrate Gili’s, our granddaughter’s 17th
birthday! I’m making antipasti and one thing is for sure, between the Raviv’s
and myself, the tables will be laden!!
What is happening in our world, the clear hatred that has emerged,
is on my mind all the time. Our wonderful friend Canon Andrew White has
call for unity, for Christians to openly support their Jewish communities; he
recognises the need for us to come together, to share love for each other, to
recognise the lies, the calumny, for what it is and ensure that we teach our
children to honour each other. His leadership, his true Christian love is
heartwarming and, in many ways, makes up for the hatred out there.
If there is anything we must learn from these last months, maybe
years, if that we must learn to accept those different from ourselves, be they
people who vote differently, people who pray differently, people who look
different, and to read beyond headlines; to teach our children that what they
see on TikTok may be exciting but it may also be untrue, inciting them to hate;
teach them to question and to judge rather than be judgmental.
Today, Zvi is in Jerusalem, taking a young Italian Christian to see
the beauty of Jerusalem old and new; to see the multicultural aspect of a city
that carries the weight of the world on her beautiful shoulders. At 12 he will
go to his parliament, back in their private room in Caffit, in the Botanical
Gardens. I wonder what they will talk about?
This Shabbat, let your thoughts take you to a better place, remember
that you don’t have to be Jewish to light a candle, to say a prayer. After
saying the prayer for Shabbat I always say a prayer for my family, for the
world’s children while allowing the glow of the candles to warm my face and my
heart. It does well to remember that the light from those Shabbat candles can
light the world if we just strike the match of tolerance.
I started this missive with the world “Shabbat Shalom dear friends”
and that is what I wish you. From our veranda to your home, I wish you a
peaceful mind and a warm heart. With much love from Jerusalem, the heart of our
world.
Sheila
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